Scout donates kennel to sheriff

EAGLE SCOUT Tommy Horn,15, from Folsom, center, stands in front of a Kennel and wash station he helped build as part of his Eagle Scout project at the El Dorado County Sheriff's office in Placerville. Standing along side left to right are Sheriff's deputies Stephen Coburn, Mike Roberts with Backus, a 6 year old Belgian malanois, Sean Gillespie, and Jeff Tucker with Carly, a 20 month old German shepherd. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

Tommy Horn, a 15-year-old Eagle Scout with Troop 1855 of Folsom, began planning his Eagle Scout project in January. By mid-May, construction was under way. It didn’t take long.

“It took about a week for the concrete to dry,” he said. From there, “it took a day to build the wash station. It took a couple weeks to ship the side panels, and one afternoon to build the kennels.”

The kennels and wash station were then presented to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department to benefit the K-9 units June 29.

The project, which was made possible by “generous donations from the Deputy Sheriffs Association, the El Dorado Hills Firefighters Association,” deputies, friends and family, was a “worthwhile project,” Horn said, “knowing that the kennels and wash station are being put to good use.” The project cost about $2,000, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department.

The project was further helped by Detective John Yaws, who “provided all the concrete and made himself available on every project work day, until the project was completed,” the press release said.

“Tommy was looking for a challenging and beneficial Eagle Scout Project in Community Service, Wildlife Management or Animal Care. After reviewing many options, Tommy chose to provide the El Dorado Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit with kennels and a canine wash station. The project met both Tommy’s community service and animal care areas of interest,” the press release said.

Horn, who has been in scouting for nine years, has earned 30 merit badges, including three of the four special anniversary badges that were only available for a year. The badges he has earned include “citizenship, personal management, fitness, outdoor skills and shooting sports,” the press release said. He has also held many positions within his troop, including “Patrol Leader, Troop Chaplain, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader.”

Sheriff John D’Agostini signed off on Horn’s Eagle Scout paperwork, certifying a job well done, on June 19, the press release said. Horn presented the kennels and wash station, along with a check for $545, to the Sheriff’s Deparment, with four K-9 units in attendance.

The sheriff noted that it wouldn’t be possible without help from Horn’s parents, and Sgt. Jim Applegate said the new wash station and kennels were something the deparment had been “trying to get for 10 or 12 years.”

Applegate, who is in charge of the K-9 units, said that the project “was all him. (Horn) coordinated with all the guys.” He said the extra money will go to the K-9 Association Fund, which can be used for “any needs or unexpected costs or vet bills” for the furry, four-footed deputies. “Tommy did it all.”

All that is left for Tommy is to graduate as an Eagle Scout, which he said will likely be put to a board for review in August.

Cole Mayer

Cole Mayer started writing for the Mountain Democrat in early 2012. He has written news, features and opinions in the past, and currently works the crime, court and fire beat.

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