Each winter, countless community cats face the harsh reality of freezing temperatures with no safe place to go. At Da Vinci’s Dream Animal Rescue, we believe every animal deserves warmth, comfort, and care — even those who live outdoors.
For the past two years, our team and volunteers have come together to build and donate more than 200 insulated cat houses to help feral and stray cats across our community survive the coldest months. These shelters are simple to make, but they make a life-changing difference — offering warmth, protection from wind and moisture, and a safe place to rest when temperatures drop.
Our Feral Cat Winter House Project began as a small, local effort and has grown into a true community movement. By providing these insulated homes, we strive to alleviate suffering wherever we can and give vulnerable animals the comfort and dignity they deserve.
We’re proud to share this project with you — and we hope it inspires others to take action, too. Whether you’d like to donate materials, sponsor a build, or create your own shelters, every act of kindness helps keep these cats safe.
💡 Build Your Own Shelter
Want to make a difference in your own neighborhood? Download our free step-by-step guide and learn how to build your own insulated cat house using simple materials.
Together, we can help our community’s most vulnerable animals — one shelter at a time.
We’re always looking for ways to make a tangible difference for animals — not only through rescue and adoption, but by improving the environments where they’re cared for. One of our recent community efforts took place at the Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter, where our volunteers installed a new drain system and concrete pad in front of the back building that houses the shelter’s overflow dogs.
This area often experienced significant standing water, creating an unsanitary and unsafe environment for both animals and staff. Pools of stagnant water can harbor mosquitoes and bacteria, increasing the risk of disease and making it difficult to keep the area clean and accessible.
Thanks to the dedication of our incredible volunteer team, we were able to install a proper drain and pour a new concrete pad, allowing water to flow away efficiently and keeping the space clean, dry, and healthier for the dogs who stay there.
This project is a perfect example of our mission in action — to alleviate suffering and improve conditions for animals in our community in every way we can. By working together with local shelters and volunteers, we’re creating safer, more comfortable environments for the animals who need it most.
💛 A heartfelt thank-you to our volunteers and supporters who helped make this project possible. Every improvement, big or small, brings us one step closer to a brighter future for animals in need.
We believe that small improvements can make a big difference in the lives of animals waiting for homes. One of our recent community efforts focused on enhancing the living spaces at the Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter — specifically, the back building, which is often used to house overflow dogs when the shelter is at capacity.
Over time, the shelter’s original doors had become worn and damaged — many had cracked or missing glass, leaving the rooms dark and closed off. We saw an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to raise funds to purchase and install brand-new doors for this area of the shelter.
These new doors now allow each dog to see out through clear glass panels, bringing much-needed natural light into their rooms and creating a more open, welcoming environment. For dogs in shelter care, this visibility and connection to the outside world can make a tremendous difference — reducing stress, improving behavior, and helping them feel more comfortable while they await adoption.
This project reflects our mission to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life for animals in our community and beyond. Whether it’s through medical care, rescue efforts, or facility improvements like this one, we’re dedicated to making every day brighter for the animals who need us most.
💛 Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this project possible! Together, we’re creating real, tangible change — one door (and one happy tail) at a time.
