AJAX—Insulated dog houses, being built by students at a high school in Ajax have been shipped to Manitoulin Island to provide homes for dogs that live outside.
“All seven dog houses we have made so far have been shipped up to Manitoulin Island,” said Alex Ladouceur who is a construction technology teacher at Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School in Ajax. “I teach construction technology, architecture and technological design.”
Mr. Ladouceur explained his students have been making the dog houses for the past two years. “This is a wonderful project, and we will be starting our third version of the project soon.” He is in his third year of teaching, having formally been the site superintendent for a developer in Toronto. “I was very lucky to be placed in this school as a head construction teacher. I wanted to come up with some projects that would provide theoretical lessons as well as construction.”
Due to space limitations, the class couldn’t build sheds, said Mr. Ladouceur. “Then I had the idea of the students building dog houses, but the question was, ‘what would we do with them?’ I called around to animal shelters to see if they were interested, and the Toronto SPCA (Society for the Protection of Animals) and humane societies. He was put in contact with the Animal Health Network. “I talked to a lady there that said if we constructed the dog houses, they would take care of the shipping and would send them to locations where they know there is a need for these type of dog houses.”
“She provided us schematic designs on how they should be constructed, for instance, there are two chambers on the houses that can control wind,” said Mr. Ladouceur. “They are fully insulated, and each has a hinge to replace bedding in the house. They are totally insulated (on the inside and outside) and weather proofed, to stand up to all seasons. And the houses are decorated by students in our art department.”
“We have completed seven dog houses in total,” said Mr. Ladouceur pointing out the houses are three feet by six feet in size and three foot high. “They are very expensive to make, and we have to rely solely on donations. We have been lucky that Nestle Purina gave us a donation as did Pet Valu, and the local school board.”
“We have many students sign up for the course,” stated Mr. Ladouceur. “I only had one or two girls in the first year I taught the course and now one of the classes I have is an all-girls class.”
“It’s been great. To be honest, I don’t know which communities on the Island the houses have gone to, but I know they have all gone to Manitoulin communities. And I’m pretty sure the next batch of dog houses we make will also be going to Manitoulin Island.”
The third version of the construction of the dog houses will take place in early December and will continue until around the middle of January when the dog houses will again be shipped to communities on Manitoulin Island.
