Brazil's Volunteers Build Dog Houses For Homeless Dogs

The houses aren't very big, but they're enough to give a dog some shelter and... a place to call home, temporarily, one hopes.  The shanty town within the southern Brazilian city of Caxias do Sul, where the dog houses are located, is called a favela, like the shanty towns built for displaced persons in almost all of Brazil's large cities.

Volunteers try to feed them every day and bring fresh water to the dogs, but this favela is no dog spa. It was a brilliant idea of the city's non-profit humane society, Soama, which could not afford to build a large shelter for the abandoned dogs of Caxias do Sul.  Instead, they asked for volunteers to build individual dog houses where now 1,600 dogs and 200 cats call home. 

Favela for homeless dogs in Caxias do Sul: image via DJMICKreally

Favela for homeless dogs in Caxias do Sul: image via acidcow.com

Favela for homeless dogs in Caxias do Sul: image via acidcow.com

Favela for homeless dogs in Caxias do Sul

Homeless dog in his doghouse in favela, Caxias do Sul, Brazil: image via acidcow.com

Soama tries to place its 'mutt' dogs with families, but its director says that everyone seems to want pure-bred dogs.  "Mutts make the best dogs," she told Reuters, "but most people want [pure bred] puppies."

Soama is in need of donations, which can be made directly to the organization or by purchasing its products.

Sources:  Soama, Reuters video, AcidCow.com.  A Big Thank You to  Steve Levenstein who tipped me off!

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