Stray animals face a particularly difficult time during winter. When the temperatures drop, our homeless furry friends are still roaming out in the open while we’re sitting warmly and cozily at home. Luckily, there are people out there who are doing their best to make sure that stray animals have a warm place to sleep.

Philip Rogich is one of such people. The man based in Ogden, Utah is turning other people’s trash into little homes for stray and feral cats. Philip uses discarded coolers to turn them into warm and dry places for felines to sleep during the cold season. “I saw a Facebook post about a man making them and thought I would give it a try. I made my own post looking for old coolers and it kind of took off. I do a lot of charity work mostly with children. My wife and I are also animal lovers and I wanted to do something for them,” Philip told Bored Panda. “[I’ve made] 77 so far and have coolers to make 15 more.”

More info: Facebook | Instructions on how to build a shelter

“Normally, the cooler keeps things cold. We’re going to use it to keep animals warm”

Image credits: BatmanOfOgden

“Normally the cooler keeps things cold. We’re going to use it to keep animals warm,” Philip told the Fox13 news outlet. “I actually have a 6-inch drill bit and then once you drill the hole, you just use some pipe insulation to pad it,” he further explained. “They [the coolers] are already insulated to keep things cold, but they can be used to keep things warm as well. Old ones end up in landfills and the don’t decompose.  I’m giving them another use,” he told us. When asked whether community members help to make the shelters, Philip told Bored Panda: “So far, I am the only one making them for my project.  I’ve made a how-to video so people all over the world can make their own.  I do have lots of people helping me place them.”

“Two or three cats could fit in a cooler this size!”

Image credits: BatmanOfOgden

“Everybody’s got a cooler in their garage that they’re not using,” the now-dubbed animal hero told the media. Philip says that together with a few items that you can find in any hardware store, you can turn a discarded cooler into a shelter. First, you’d have to drill an entrance hole with a 6-inch drill bit. Then, some three-quarter-inch pipe insulation should be added to line the entrance.

“[Feral cats] just disappear, get overlooked. They get cold in the wintertime, too. They’re living creatures”

Image credits: BatmanOfOgden

“And then on the inside, you just use a straw. Straw has been used for hundreds of years as bedding for animals and that’s because it has the ability to dry out,” Philip told the media. “And there you go! A cat cooler! Two or three cats could fit in a cooler this size!”
“People donate old coolers, straw, and money. I had no idea this was going to get so big.  It started with a Facebook post asking for old coolers.  Then the local Fox station did a story on me.  The story went national. I’ve been hearing from people from all over the world. I’m glad to be a catalyst for bringing a little good to our four-legged friends,” the animal hero revealed to Bored Panda.

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