A Blackfoot man is helping stray cats with the use of something unique. Kelly Boodry uses campaign signs of political candidates to build shelters for the cats.
“One of the people I'd worked with, a friend of mine was in animal advocacy, and she made the suggestion,” Broody said. “Initially, I thought, ‘Well, that's a good idea.’”
That good idea has turned into about three dozen shelters since 2022.
Boodry retired from a career in nuclear engineering in 2016 and never could have imagined spending his retirement this way.
“I built a great, beautiful shop, to work on cars and motorcycles, and immediately started building shelters and stuff like that in it,” Broody, said. “So I use it more for doing craft type work for animal advocacy than I do cars and motorcycles.”
Animal advocacy is close to Boodry's heart. He worked as a volunteer in the Pocatello Animal Shelter and is involved with several other organizations. In fact, he is a director on the board of the Bingham County Humane Society.
Broody said he’s always had at least two cats in his house.
"Having cats, at home where I could come when i come back, at least I come back to somebody, and they were just a big comfort to me. And so, this is kind of a way to kind of pay it back,” he said.
The shelters are made from 24 signs layered together to create the walls, floor and ceiling which are then nailed onto a sturdy wooden frame.
Broody explained that spaying and neutering pets could help them even more than building shelters.
The Bingham County Humane Society is always looking for donations and Boodry himself is in search of more campaign signs so he can build more shelters. If you want to contact Kelly or the society visit binghamcountyhumane.org.