Doggone good project: Scout earns Eagle rank by donating pet beds to Longmont Humane Society

The wards of the Longmont Humane Society are sleeping a bit easier these days thanks to the efforts of one local BSA troop and its member who made creature comforts the focus of her Eagle Scout project. 

Kate Greiner, a member of Firestone-based Troop 73, recently donated 28 raised dog beds to the shelter.

The troop began informal activities in October 2018 so Scouts could get to know each other. Greiner is a founding member of the group, which began formal meetings in February 2019 when Scouts BSA sanctioned girls’ participation in its pre-teen and teen programs. 

Greiner said the bed-making project grew from her love of animals.

"In the past few years, especially since the quarantine started, I've really found a passion for animals, animal science and animal welfare, and I want to go into the field of veterinary studies," she said, "I knew ever since I developed that love and passion for animals that I wanted to do something with this amazing opportunity to help them and the people that are helping the animals." 

Her goal, she said, was to keep the dogs comfortable, happy, healthy and safe, and to help relieve the staff of some of the strain that comes with caring for the animals.

The project to achieve the Eagle Scout rank, which is the highest that can be achieved in Scouts BSA, also allowed her to let her individuality shine. 

"I wanted to do something that was unique to me,” Greiner said. “We found this, and not many people are doing this project. It was also important for me to find something that could benefit somebody."

But it took the help of the troop, its leaders — Scoutmaster Mike Guilkey, Assistant Scoutmasters Ross Greiner and Ben Chapman and Committee Chairperson Meghan Cole — family and a few generous donors, as well as some problem-solving, to make her vision happen. 

Greiner’s mom, Jeannine, rounded up a donation of 15 yards of fabric, but they quickly realized that was only enough material for 10 raised beds. After a bit of research and an email, Chewy.com donated the rest of the needed material.

While getting enough fabric was a minor challenge, finding the right PVC pipe was a bigger struggle. 

The troop had some trouble finding the correct connectors. The 1¼-inch diameter corner connectors they needed were out of stock at Home Depot. 

"They would have taken forever to come in the mail, so we had to buy 1-inch connectors and reinvent our entire plan for the PVC. It's amazing the difference that a quarter-inch makes," Kate Greiner said.

When it was time to build the beds, Greiner asked troop members to come with tools in hand.

"We told everybody 'if you have tools, you can bring them,' and our main thought was PVC cutters because we've already sewn and put together the covers,” she said. “So, almost everybody brought hacksaws or motorized tools. We had like 60 different ways of cutting PVC, and in the end, we ended up using, maybe, three." 

Mallets turned out to be key to the creation process, too. 

With troop members working in teams of two to build three beds at a time, they needed more on construction day. Enter Scoutmaster  Mike Guilkey, who ran home for more.

Through the process, Greiner said she learned a bit about being a leader and not overthinking things. 

"It was a leadership opportunity,” she said. “Don't overthink the high-tech PVC cutter that cuts through PVC in a second. Sometimes it's not the best tool."

A lifelong Boy Scout, as well as a Scouts BSA Scoutmaster, Greiner’s proud dad and Troop 73 Assistant Scoutmaster, Ross Greiner said her personality shone throughout the process. 

"This project definitely was bleeding with Kate's love for animals. That was absolutely there, but it just was unique to see her style of leadership," he said. "In the end, it was cutting PVC pipes and putting dog beds together. Still, it would have felt very different if it was any other Scout."

The coronavirus pandemic created a few wrinkles, too, with most of Kate Greiner’s communications with the Humane Society taking place via email. She met only once with staff at the shelter to talk about the project and had to have an appointment to do so. When it was time to deliver the beds, it was done without contact. 

Despite those limitations, Debie Crawford, the volunteer program supervisor, said Greiner and her troop were easy to work with and that Greiner’s strong sense of purpose was moving.

"Kate is an inspiration and the thought that, because of this project, all of our dogs at this moment have access to raised beds warms my heart," she said.