The saying goes, “good fences make good neighbors,” and that’s exactly what Better Together Animal Alliance (BTAA), Cedar Hills Church, and Humble & Black Real Estate Team are aiming to build this June. As part of Cedar Hills’ “Serve Sandpoint” day on June 14, 2026, volunteers from the congregation, along with other members of the Sandpoint community, will head out across the area to complete a variety of service projects.
“The last time we held this event in the summer of 2024, we had almost 400 volunteers working on about 18 service projects,” explains Michele Murphee of Cedar Hills Church. “For our 2024 event and this event, our service projects are primarily with our local nonprofits and schools. Again this year, we have about 18 projects and we’re really excited about getting the opportunity to work with BTAA on three of them.”
Through this partnership, BTAA and Cedar Hills will build three fences at no cost to community members in need of secure outdoor spaces for their dogs, helping remove a common barrier that can put pets at risk of being lost, surrendered, or injured while roaming unsupervised. In 2025 alone, BTAA took in 177 stray dogs, many from situations where a safe, enclosed space could have made a difference. “Keeping people and pets together is the core of our mission,” says Mandy Evans, Executive Director of BTAA. “Building a fence to keep dogs safely at home can be cost-prohibitive so we are beyond grateful to Cedar Hills and to Humble & Black Real Estate for their support in acquiring the materials needed to make these fences happen.”
Applications for the fencing projects will open May 1 and close May 15, 2026. Interested individuals and families can apply online here or in person at the Bonner Community Food Bank or BTAA’s Animal Care Center during regular business hours. Selected applicants will be notified by June 1, 2026. To qualify, applicants must reside in Sagle, Dover, Sandpoint, Ponderay, or Kootenai.
“This type of collaboration is what makes our region such a wonderful place to live,” continues Evans. “We’re launching this project during Live Give 7B, a countywide campaign that celebrates and supports local nonprofits. And while a generous donor is matching contributions up to $10,000 made to BTAA during the Live Give 7B campaign, this fencing project is made possible through dedicated partnerships with Cedar Hills and Humble & Black Real Estate. These fences are more than just materials. They’re peace of mind for families and a way to keep pets safe at home, where they belong.”
