Every kennel at Pima Animal Care Center now has a comfortable dog bed after volunteers armed with channel locks and other tools spent Saturday building 105 dog beds.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to the volunteers who took the time to make sure the great pets at our adoption center will be comfortable and warm this winter,” said Shelter Manager Justin Gallick.

June Hall, a sixth grade teacher who works at Ironwood Elementary, which donated the space for the volunteer effort, said she was thrilled to see the community engagement. “Animals can’t help themselves. We have to do it for them,” said Hall, who has four dogs at home.

Meanwhile, volunteers Barry and Jennifer Gillaspie were on a roll, finishing their sixth bed by late morning. Jennifer, a retired city employee with four rescue dogs herself, now walks dogs at the shelter as a way to help out while getting her exercise.

“It just feels really good to do what we can to help,” Jennifer said. “These beds make sure they’re off the concrete and you can just tell how much they love them.”

Oliver, who was rescued from PACC in 2009, took time out from his busy schedule as a certified pet therapy dog and a shelter pet ambassador to provide quality assurance and motivation, while occasionally testing the finished products.

“The biggest takeaway from today is that anyone can help,” said Oliver’s owner Laurie Gaetano, who helped raise funds for the effort after seeing a post on Facebook. “So many people want to help, but don’t know how. Today is really a team effort and it’s great to be a part of it.”

Pima Animal Care is located at4000 N. Silverbell Road. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekends.

For more information, call 243-5900 or visit www.pimanimalcare.org

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