By; MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jackson didn't know quite what to make of his new bed and blanket, seconds after the items were set down Saturday in his kennel at the OC Animal Shelter.
The 7-month-old short-hair Chihuahua mix sniffed around the bed – fashioned out of fabric and raised about six inches off the ground – scooted away, and came back and sniffed around some more.
Jackson's new furnishing was among the 200 beds the shelter received Saturday, thanks to the efforts of Stella's Hope, a Costa Mesa-based dog rescue group. Close to 50 volunteers assembled the beds on a makeshift assembly line adjacent to the kennels.
Prior to getting the beds, many of the dogs had to sleep on heated concrete.
Two terrier-mix puppies – so new at the shelter that they hadn't been named yet – seemed appreciative, curling up into little fur balls and snuggling on the blankets on top of their new bed.
Founded by Holli Griggs of Garden Grove, the main mission of Stella's Hope is to save dogs at the shelter slated for euthanasia.
She places the pets in foster homes and, eventually, permanent homes. Griggs has saved 75 dogs so far this year at the shelter, shelter spokeswoman Tammy Osborn said.
Griggs' goal is to provide beds for all 382 kennels at the shelter, and then do the same at other shelters in Southern California.
"The reality is that a lot of the dogs will never leave here," Griggs said. "My goal is to provide them with some sort of dignity before they die."
To gather support for Saturday's effort, Griggs and other dog rescue groups got word out on their websites and Facebook pages. The drive started about a month ago.
Visitors to Stellashope.org could order Kuranda beds – ranging from $66 to $132 – and have them delivered from the manufacturer directly to Griggs. Those who couldn't afford that amount could donate smaller amounts of money or blankets.
But Pamela Myles, 16, built her own beds for the cause – 25 of them.
The Mater Dei junior adopted her dog Pom-pom from the shelter nine years ago and wanted to help.
Myles spent hours cutting the canvas and PVC pipes to craft the beds as part of a Girl Scout award project
"I feel like I could give some of my time instead of shopping or sleeping," Myles said. "Then I know (the dogs) will feel better at night ... they will be warm and cozy."
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