ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — That faded T-shirt in the back of the closet could soon be a rescue dog’s favorite toy. Two Orange Beach High School juniors are launching Tees to Tugs, a community service project that turns donated T-shirts into handmade tug toys for local rescue dogs, and the first event is set for Saturday, Oct. 3, at The Wharf.
Brylee Thompson and Lyllian Williams created the project to give neighbors of all ages a simple, hands-on way to help animals waiting for homes. Every toy made through Tees to Tugs will be donated to Angie’s Dog House, a nonprofit animal rescue based in Foley.
Tees to Tugs at a glance
- What: Tees to Tugs, a student-led project turning donated T-shirts into tug toys for rescue dogs
- First event: Saturday, Oct. 3, outside Shades at The Wharf in Orange Beach
- How to help: Donate old T-shirts, help make toys at the event, or both
- Drop-off locations: Collection boxes at Orange Beach Public Library and Expect Excellence
- Beneficiary: Angie’s Dog House, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rescue in Foley
- Cost: Free; a T-shirt donation is not required to take part
From a leadership seminar to a service project
The idea grew out of a leadership experience earlier this year. Thompson and Williams were selected as Orange Beach High School’s HOBY Ambassadors and attended the Alabama Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar at Troy University.
HOBY is a nonprofit youth leadership organization that encourages high school students to build leadership skills, serve others and become active in their communities. The organization was founded in 1958 by actor Hugh O’Brian, and its state seminars bring together high school sophomores selected by their schools for several days of workshops, speakers and team activities centered on leadership and service.
The two juniors said they came home wanting to put those lessons to work in their own community.
“We came home from HOBY wanting to do something that would actually make a difference in our community,” Thompson said.
A project anyone can join
Tees to Tugs is built around a low barrier to entry. Community members can donate old T-shirts, spend a few minutes making a toy, or simply stop by an event to lend a hand.
“I love that anyone can be a part of this project,” Williams said. “Something as simple as donating an old T-shirt or spending a few minutes making a toy can make a dog’s day a little bit better.”
T-shirt tug toys are a popular do-it-yourself project among animal shelters and rescue volunteers. Old cotton shirts are cut into strips and then braided or knotted into a thick rope that dogs can chew, carry and play tug-of-war with. The toys cost almost nothing to make, keep used clothing out of the trash and give shelter dogs something to occupy their time while they wait for adoption.
Where to drop off shirts
People who cannot make the Oct. 3 event can still contribute. Collection boxes for T-shirt donations have been placed at:
- Orange Beach Public Library
- Expect Excellence
Shirts can also be brought directly to the event. Organizers stressed that no donation is required — anyone who wants to help can show up and make a toy.
The first event at The Wharf
The kickoff event will be held outside Shades at The Wharf in Orange Beach, a business the students described as a longtime supporter of the local community.
The choice of host fits the cause. Shades Sunglasses and Casual Apparel, whose flagship store sits at The Wharf, is known around the Gulf Coast for its dog-friendly stores, where employees are encouraged to bring their dogs to work and customers are often greeted by several dogs on the sales floor. The company also hosts regular rescue adoption events at its locations.
About Angie’s Dog House
Every toy made through Tees to Tugs will go to Angie’s Dog House, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue in Foley. The organization was founded in 2018 by a longtime rescue volunteer who saw the need for a more collaborative, compassionate approach to animal rescue.
Angie’s Dog House pulls animals from high-kill shelters and other at-risk situations across the South. Rather than relying on a single shelter building, it places animals through partnerships with rescues in the Northeast, a foster network in Michigan and direct adoptions. The rescue describes its team as advocates dedicated to saving lives, providing care and giving animals a second chance at a loving home.
Those interested in adopting can fill out an application on the rescue’s website or browse its adoptable animals on Petfinder. The organization also accepts donations and applications from prospective foster families.
Rescue needs across the region
The project arrives at a time of heavy demand on animal shelters and rescues in coastal Alabama. Shelters in the region have reported full kennels and surges in intakes this year, and rescue groups depend on volunteers and donated supplies to stretch their budgets.
Enrichment items such as toys help dogs cope with the stress of shelter and foster life, and can make a difference in how a dog behaves when potential adopters come to visit. For a small rescue, a steady supply of donated, handmade toys means money that would have gone to supplies can go toward food, medical care and transport instead.
Dog welfare has also been in the spotlight statewide. Beau’s Law, which sets statewide rules for tethering, shelter and care of outdoor dogs, takes effect in Alabama on Oct. 1.
A young school with a service focus
Orange Beach Middle and High School held its opening ceremony on Aug. 10, 2020, after construction began in May 2018. The school, home of the Makos, moved from the Baldwin County school system to the new Orange Beach City Schools district on July 1, 2022.
Thompson and Williams are among the students representing that young school in leadership programs such as HOBY, and Tees to Tugs is their way of turning a few days of leadership training into ongoing service.
More events planned
The project is not a one-time effort. Tees to Tugs is expected to continue throughout the school year, with additional events planned across the Gulf Coast. The students said they hope the project gives people of all ages a chance to get involved, give back and help local rescue dogs — one old T-shirt at a time.