SHORELINES

Going to the dogs Scouts raise money, awareness for shelter S pend an afternoon at the Lake of their project, and the response from the Martin Animal Shelter (LMAS), community, proved to be much more than and you'll see the Alexander City Chandler or the Boy Scouts ever anticipated. "I knew whatever we did, I wanted it to community's compassion and be bigger than just us, I wanted to involve generosity on display. Volunteers from local high schools help as many people as possible," Chandler mop the shelter's floors and fill food bowls. explains. She proposed that the Boy Scouts A young mother visits almost daily to build dog houses for the shelter to auction. walk the dogs as she pushes her toddler in a stroller. A retiree stops by to spend time "It means so much to see with the cats each day. so many people in the So it should be no surprise what the community accomplished through a Boy community who are willing Scout project and a fundraising idea for the to support us, and who wanted shelter, which was founded in 1982 and is to be involved with this." operated by the Humane Society. Boy Scout Troop 701 of Alexander City Laurie Carter, whose 15-year-old grandson, approached Mia Chandler, the executive director of the LMAS, at just the right time. Dylan Miller, is in the troop, talked with The troop wanted a project that would help Chandler and helped start the project with the animal shelter, while Chandler was the Scouts. "I have been involved with Scouting looking for ways to make up for a rained-out fundraiser from earlier in the year. Chandler for eight years." Carter says. "When Mia was brainstorming ideas for fundraisers approached us with this project, we started and decided to involve the Boy Scouts and bouncing around ideas and wanted to be the community in the plans. The success involved right away." Once the Boy Scouts knew their mission, they went to work raising money for the materials. "We did research on how to build them, and then got to work with Home Depot and another home improvement center here for the supplies," Carter says. As another way to involve the community, the Boy Scouts created cardboard models of the dog houses to serve as donation boxes. They left the boxes with local businesses, canvassed neighborhoods and contacted friends for donations. The Ann Edwards and Fair Lane neighborhoods in Alexander City raised enough money so that each neighborhood sponsored a large dog house. "We knew we could count on them. They have always been supportive of our troop and it meant a lot that they were so willing to give to this project," Carter says. In all, the troop raised enough money from individuals and local businesses for nine small houses and two large ones. The Scouts studied models and building plans for the houses, and learned safety tips and the uses for different tools before setting up workdays to build the houses together. Facing: Happy, one of the dogs at the Lake Martin Animal Shelter, plays with one of his favorite toys. Next page; large photo: Boy Scouts from Troop 701 build one of their 11 houses for the Lake Martin Animal Shelter. Inset photos: The houses decorated by local children and artists are displayed at Alexander City's City Hall. 15

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