A new animal kennel was built and installed at New Roads homeless youth drop-in center, provided by members of Southtowne Rotary group.
Members of the Eugene Southtowne Rotary group assembled a new animal kennel and installed it at New Roads homeless youth drop-in center after New Roads staff requested help corralling the various pets that youth tend to bring in. Rotarians Lonny and Jantzen built the 5-unit kennel and installed it in the first week of January.
New Roads homeless youth clients often bring their dogs or cats to New Roads while accessing services. Previously, they had to tie them up to the fence and hope for no scuffles between animals. Now they can safely stow their pets and provide them a warm, dry place to be while the youth get meals, showers, clothing or other services from staff inside New Roads (pets are not allowed inside).
“The youth that we serve at New Roads have had to learn how to survive on the streets in unpredictable and often unsafe situations,” said Maleigha Myers, Homeless & Adjudicated Youth Services Youth Services Director. “A pet can be the one thing that gives them courage to face each day. Having a pet to provide companionship, protection, and love provides a sense of purpose and often times some solace as they navigate what can be a harsh world. Thanks to the Southtowne Rotary Club, now the pets that visit New Roads with their owners will have somewhere safe where they can wait for their human.”
Southtowne Rotarians Lonny and Jantzen install the animal kennel at New Roads homeless youth drop in center.