Palace construction teams Family Lee (foreground) and Family Shope (rear) at work building cat and dog palaces, and a wagon, during Pohick’s Pet Palaces program
On-hand for animal testing, was therapy dog Max, a Yorkie, with his handler Nan Siemer. Siemer, a teacher, is experienced in child to dog interactions as the leader of Kingstowne Library’s past “read with a dog” program. It appeared Max was favorably impressed with all the construction efforts, although it’s possible he was influenced by the ready availability of treats during each test. Those humans present were also impressed with the level of creativity and engineering prowess of kids, moms, and dads. This reporter is predicting the ready acceptance of all the palaces when they arrive home, even by those most particular of animals — housecats. What do you say, Lolo, Luna, and Cleo? Hamsters are likely still running the tubes and unavailable for comment.
Stella, 9, and Zeb, 6, home schooled, with their dad, built a palace with hamster-ready tunnels
Estela, 9, Laurel Ridge Elementary, and her mom Rebecca Mooney, Fairfax, engineered a cat house for Lolo, complete with dangling catnip toys
Estela Mooney and Max prove Lolo’s cat house is a palace that delivers smiles