☀️ Building Shade and Comfort for Shelter Dogs

This summer, Life Scout Quinn M. of Troop 5, Maplewood completed his Eagle Scout Service Project at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ. His project, titled “Sun Shade Installation for Shelter Dogs,” brought much-needed shade and protection to the center’s outdoor play yards.

The upper play area at St. Hubert’s sat on a sunny hillside with no natural cover. To make the space safer and more comfortable for dogs and volunteers, Quinn M. installed three large canopies over the fenced yards—covering more than 1,700 square feet in total.

The project involved setting twelve steel poles into concrete footings and stretching heavy-duty fabric sails between them to block sun and rain. Quinn M. organized fundraising through GoFundMe, local Rotary Clubs, and community supporters, raising more than $4,000 in donations and materials.

He led a team of Scouts, classmates, and family members to complete the construction over the summer. Once finished, the new canopies provided cooler, more inviting spaces for the animals to play and for volunteers to work comfortably.

“This project combined my love for animals with my interest in building and leadership,” Quinn M. said. “It felt great to do something that helps both the dogs and the people who care for them.”

Troop 5 is proud of Quinn M. for his leadership, dedication, and service to the community.