Eagle Scout Owen Mont, of Emmaus, likes animals so when he began work toward the highest honor in Scouting he knew he wanted to do something to help them, he said in a telephone interview Oct. 11.

Mont coordinated the creation and donation of 166 animal beds and 70 heating pads to benefit the Lehigh County Humane Society.

Many Eagle Scout projects, Mont said, involve getting outside with a shovel and moving dirt.

COVID-19 restrictions inspired his creativity in developing his project and also many of the volunteers who helped him achieve his goal.

“The pandemic helped. People wanted to help,” he said.

Mont and his fellow Scouts made approximately 60 beds and Mont coordinated volunteer donations of the remaining 100 or so. The heating pads were created by volunteers with sewing skills and sewing machines, Mont said.

The pads are filled with rice and can be heated in a microwave. The pads are intended for animals recovering from operations and kittens and puppies needing warmth. The pads stay warm for about 20 minutes.

Mont saw a need for the animal beds when he noticed animals slept on thin towels or the bare floors of their shelter crates. Some of the beds, approximately 17-by-17 inches for cats and 22-by-22 inches for dogs, are made of flannel sheets.

Mont began the necessary paperwork for his project in May. He collected the beds and heating pads in about two months, he said.

“I cannot even put it into words,” Mont said of his feelings the day he delivered his finished project to the shelter.

“I’d love to help more and I plan to,” he said.