The HOWS Project

The HOWS Project was created by Stacey Norris, its Project Coordinator, in 2008. Since its first year of operation - with the help of local schools' carpentry classes, Boy Scout troops, hardware and building supply companies, individual donors, animal control officers, and animal loving volunteers - the HOWS Project has built and distributed over 1000 wooden dog houses to outside dogs (and a few goats, pigs, chicken and feral cats!) in need in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson, Orange, and Buckingham HOWS recipients from current and past years, and other dogs that we encounter on our journeys, receive bales of straw bedding each fall/winter season; and other items such as water buckets, food bowls, nylon collars, leashes, and swivels to keep tethers from kinking are distributed as needed. We are also now installing fencing.

HOWS helps outside dogs who are legally yet inappropriately sheltered by providing them with free well-built insulated wooden houses, along with other essential supplies; all the while working with their people in an ongoing, non-judgmental way to educate them about better practices for their animals -- including bringing them "inside".  HOWS visits and revisits our clients at minimum once yearly.  We have re-homed dogs on occasion with the blessing of their people; and we offer free spay/neuter for any of the HOWS dogs as well.  We have made a lot of friends along the way -- 2 legged and 4 legged.  HOWS is truly a community based project -- with the community for the community.  

HOWS is a project of Voices for Animals, a 501c3 organization helping animals in Central Virginia since 1984. 

For the Day of Caring, we are looking for volunteers with trucks or cargo vans to transport our raw dog house material (2x6x96's beams and 4x8x3/4 plywood) from the stores they'll be donated and/or purchased from to the participating schools and boy scout troops that have signed up to build our dog houses this fall.  Most locations are in Cville or Albemarle; a couple are in Greene County.  I will be at the Day of Caring "kick off" but not traveling with anyone that day.  I coordinate maps and contacts with you prior to the Day of Caring.  The smaller materials (like caulk, screws, etc.) are boxed and labeled; I bring them to the Day of Caring for you to deliver along with the lumber.  We typically have between 6 to 8 locations to deliver to that day.  Hope you might be interested in helping us help outside dogs in the area stay warmer this coming winter season.