Trio team up on 'Good Neighbors' fencing project

PONDERAY — There is an old saying — “good fences make good neighbors” — and that’s exactly what Better Together Animal Alliance, Cedar Hills Church, and the Humble & Black Real Estate team are aiming to build this June.

As part of Cedar Hills’ “Serve Sandpoint” day 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,” said Michele Murphree 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.”

For Jimy Black and Jake Humble of the Humble & Black Real Estate, giving back to the community they call home is important. Both also share a deep appreciation for animals and understand the important role pets play in people’s lives.

Supporting projects like this reflects their commitment to strengthening the community and creating a better environment for both residents and their four-legged companions, the pair said.

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.

Each year, BTAA cares for approximately 2,400 stray and surrendered animals and serves more than 8,000 pets through its community-based services. 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,” said Mandy Evans, BTAA executive director. “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. Interested individuals and families can apply online at bettertogetheranimalalliance.org 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. 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,” Evans said. 

BTAA is 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, Evans said the fencing project is made possible through dedicated partnerships with Cedar Hills and Humble & Black Real Estate. 

"These fences are more than just materials," she added. "They’re peace of mind for families and a way to keep pets safe at home, where they belong.”

For more information about BTAA, go online to bettertogetheranimalalliance.org. To learn more about Cedar Hills Church, go online to cedarhillschurch.com. To learn more about Humble & Black Real Estate, go online to humbleandblack.com.