The Selma Times-Journal

For dogs at the Central Alabama Animal Shelter, being in the doghouse is now the place to be.

The shelter received a gift of five doghouses built by the Selma chapter of Woodmen of the World Tuesday as part of the Animal House program sponsored by the national organization.

Warren Hinson, director of the shelter, said the doghouses will provide shade in the summer and warmth in the winter.

The houses will be stationed in the ends of the shelter’s dog runs and around the puppy play area.

The doghouses are made of plywood and heavy shingles. The houses are secured with screws instead of nails, making them sturdy and able to last for years, Hinson said.

The roofs can be opened and adjusted as well.

The cost to build a medium sized doghouse ranges from $60 to $90. Gene Wilson, who headed the project, obtained materials donated by several businesses, including lumber, and took everything along for a recent lodge retreat. &8220;I carried [the wood] down to Woodmen camp for three days. The men built, the women painted, and when we got back to Selma I put on another coat of paint&8221; to wrap it up. &8220;We just like to do things for the community,&8221; Wilson said.

The national organization considers the program to be an eligible matching funds project. As such, it is considered a community-oriented service project, and can be funded if necessary. The program has three parts: disaster aid for people and their pets; educate the public about the humane treatment of pets; and providing dog shelters.

In Selma, the local community provided everything needed to build the houses. Vandals had attacked the shelter recently, damaging property immediately surrounding the shelter.

Hinson said the shelter thanks the community for their love and support. &8220;It’s like a gift coming to work every day,&8221; Hinson said. &8220;People leave food, blankets, old newspapers for the litter boxes, and cat litter. We are greatly blessed. The support of the community is incredible,&8221; Hinson said.

The Central Alabama Animal Shelter will be holding an open adoption day Saturday Oct. 27 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Hinson invites the public to attend. She said the shelter hopes to be open at least one Saturday per month, beginning in October and continuing into November and December.