Madisonville High School senior sets out to build 100 animal shelters through nonprofit

MADISONVILLE, Texas (KBTX) – A Madisonville High School senior is raising money through a nonprofit he started to support animals in need before he leaves for college.

Not many high school students would set up meetings with local government officials, but Thomas Dean is different.

“I still am kind of this small high school kid, but now I’m a small high school kid who is following through on a dream,” he said.

Thomas is one of only 10 Ford Leadership Scholars, a competitive program through Texas FFA promoting leadership, scholarship and community service. He’s one of two recipients from Madisonville High School. His agricultural science teacher, Lynita Foster, encouraged him to apply.

“This is one of the students that I’ve been able to be involved with and engaged with on so many levels of different activities and events,” she said.

Part of being one of those scholars is completing a community service project with a long-term impact. After intensive training through the program, Thomas reached out to local government officials to learn more about the issues facing the community. Through those conversations, he decided to turn his attention to the city’s need for improved animal control.

”I’m answering our city’s needs in I believe one of the best ways possible, by giving us a way to increase our animal control while also just helping something that means a lot to me, which, of course, is animals,” he said.

Working alongside Madison County Judge Clark Osborne, he developed a plan to house stray cats by putting up shelters in strategic areas across the community. With a safe place to go, these stray cats will be able to be picked up and treated.

“There are cats that just kind of roam the streets of Madisonville, and sadly that results in a lot of roadkill. I have driven past far too many cats in my time going and driving to Madisonville High School for me to not want to definitely see some change there,” Thomas said.

At the same time, he connected with Rufus Refuge, an animal shelter in need.

“They needed roofs. They didn’t need shelter. They needed roofs,” he added.

Shortly after, his own nonprofit, Roofs for Rufus, was born. Now, Thomas is raising money for those roofs.

He set a goal of 100 shelters – 50 stray cat shelters for the city and 50 dog shelters for Rufus Refuge. Thomas said the cat shelters will be built at school by student carpenters. For the dog shelters, he’s partnering with Petmate to purchase igloos, which he said are the best cover for Texas heat.

“Whenever they find a new dog that needs to be fostered, they can just give them an igloo with a dog,” he said.

After just two weeks, Thomas raised nearly $3,000, enough to fund 19 shelters. His overall fundraising goal is set at $15,000.

Thomas plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to study psychology. He said his goal is to become a therapist, and he wants to use his lifelong love of animals to help others improve their mental health.

“With every pet that I’m saving, that’s another companion for life for someone else,” he said.

Lynita, who is also a longtime family friend of Thomas’s, said she’s thankful to have watched him learn and grow over the years.

“That was just a very rewarding moment because my life’s work has been trying to show students opportunities,” she said.

She’s proud to see Thomas leaving an impact on the community. She said she still has an old baby photo of Thomas, and can’t believe how far he’s come.

“I’ve looked at that baby picture and, wow. Who would have known that that young man would grow up to be somebody that is one of our standout students?” she said.

Information on how to donate to Roofs for Rufus can be found at the link here.