Vo-Tech students stuff the doghouse

Published Jan 9, 2014 at 4:25 pm (Updated Jan 9, 2014)

Sophomore students Ian Keppler, Joe Reidl and Kyle Katsios stand in front of a doghouse they built at class in their building trades class.

Members of the freshman class stand with a doghouse they built in their building trades class.

SPARTA Building Trades teacher Steve Wagner of Wantage has been donating doghouses to local animal rescues since 2008.

Its a part of the curriculum, Wagner said. It gives students an excellent breakdown of all phases of construction from flooring to 2x4 framing, trim work, staining, painting and roof installation.

Wagner came up with the idea to donate doghouses built by Vo-Tech students after encountering One Step Closer Animal Rescue volunteers at the Newton Walmart, during a bake sale event to raise funds.

The students are doing something good, and at the same time, learning part of the trade, Wagner said. Besides construction, building trades also covers electricity, plumbing, dry-wall installation, low-pressure boiler systems and industrial maintenance. Wagner explains most of the materials used to build the doghouses are either donated or recycled, and that all building trades students freshmen through senior contribute to the construction of the doghouses.

Wagner builds about two houses a year with his students. In the past, the classes have donated the doghouses to the following non-profit, no-kill rescues: Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary in Middletown, N.Y., Father Johns Animal House in Lafayette and O.S.C.A.R. in Sparta.

O.S.C.A.R., which wasnt in need of a doghouse, referred Wagner to Pets Alive, who is this years recipient of the doghouse that was built in November and December.

It is quite an experience," Freshman Brandon Hall, 14, of Wantage said. "There is a lot to do when building a doghouse. I liked framing the walls and roof the best.

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Vo-Tech students stuff the doghouse