This story originally appeared in our summer print newsletter.
Homeownership is transformational for people—that’s why Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity does the work we do. But the effect extends beyond humans!
Visitors to Pikes Peak Habitat’s neighborhood at The Ridge at Sand Creek might notice dogs barking, walking their people around the block, visiting our volunteers and construction staff, and generally loving life in their new homes.
“I feel like they’re at peace, just being here and being able to just come and relax on the couch or play in their backyard,” says Monya, a Pikes Peak Habitat homeowner who has lived in her home for almost two years. She recently doubled the canine population of her household when a puppy, Boss, joined canine brother Bingo and three human siblings.
“When we found Bingo, he was being starved to train him to be a service animal,” she says. “So we were able to rescue him from that, and then he came and he did great. He was so wonderful with us.”
Bingo, a goldendoodle mix, joined the family about six months after they moved into their house. Then a few months ago, they learned about a puppy who needed a new home. He joined the family on Monya’s birthday.
“He’s just been thriving and doing great,” says Monya. “I think just having somebody to play with, another dog, and then of course playing with the kids, and everybody does great with both of them. It’s like they were meant to be here.”navy
Bingo and Boss aren’t the only dogs enjoying life in Pikes Peak Habitat’s newest neighborhood, though. So is 11-year-old Nahla, a mix who lives with her human, Judith.
“She loves it!” says Judith. “She has more room to run around, and I open the door and she goes in the backyard and comes back in whenever. So it’s nice for her, definitely, to have all that space.”
And Nahla adores Eric Wells, Pikes Peak Habitat’s construction superintendent, and Chaz O’Shaughnessy, construction assistant.
“When she sees them, I can’t hold her anymore on the leash. Those are her two favorite people, for sure!” says Judith. “She’s crazy about Chaz and Eric!”
“We’re crazy about Nahla, too!” responds O’Shaughnessy. “She’s adorable.”
Canine Companionship
The benefits of sharing life with a dog, cat, or other companion animal are well-documented—and our homeowners have their own experiences and perspectives to add to the discussion.
“She understands what I am saying to her, and she can tell me what she wants,” says Judith. “It’s really nice to have a pet.”
Sarai, Monya’s daughter, says having the dogs makes life “more fun in the house. If we have nothing to do, we can all just play with the dogs, and we can all just go in the backyard and have fun with the dogs.”
“It feels like there’s more children in the house,” says Monya’s son Jovani, and his mom concurs.
“It’s like another kid, because they whine,” she says. “They make messes, but then they also can sense when you’re sad, especially Bingo — he does really great with that.”
Jovani agrees. “When I’m sad, Bingo just comes in my room, jumps on my bed,” he says.
Judith, who works from home, says Nahla keeps her company all day. “She lies under the desk where my feet are,” she comments. “She likes to get petted all day, and whenever she gets a chance, she sits there next to me, and I have to pet her, especially in the evenings or in the mornings when I get up.”
In addition to the companionship, both homeowners also say their dogs provide security.
“When Jovani came in [to the room], he instantly went to stand in front of him,” Monya observes of Bingo. “He’s like, This is my person. When we first got him, he did the same thing with me. They’re very protective, and it’s another lookout.”
“She’s a good watchdog,” Judith says of Nahla. “By now she knows the volunteers and the people from Habitat and the neighbors, so she’s okay, but if somebody comes to the door she has not met, she barks. When she’s in the backyard, if there are people behind there in the street, she alerts, and if she doesn’t stop barking, then I go outside and look to see what’s going on.”
Home Sweet Home
Monya says her dogs are thriving—and so is her family.
“I think it’s safety and just the comfort of, they know that this is theirs,” she explains. “There’s adventures here, too. There’s a lot more kids. There’s pathways to walk, there’s a creek down there, so lots of space for right now, as there’s not so many houses, for the dogs to run, the kids to go outside and play.”
Plus, “we get to have separate rooms, and we get to have our own stuff,” says Sarai. “Ever since we moved from the apartment, everything’s just been bigger, so we have more space to do stuff.”
For her part, Judith is as happy in their new home as Nahla is—if not more.
“The dining room is really nice and spacious, a bigger bathroom I can actually turn around in, and that little mudroom area,” she says. “I finally have my own washer and dryer and a little area where I can hang up the clothes and put shoes, a little bench, and a bigger mirror, so it’s actually pretty neat. And just to be able to walk in the backyard and have that privacy and sit there and relax, I just love it.”
She concludes, “The whole house is just perfect!”
