Sophia Riley, left, built and donated this dog house to the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office for a new K9. Also pictured is Captain Hann from the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office. (Submitted photo)

Sophia Riley of Tarkio, Missouri, wanted to help local law enforcement and came up with the idea to build a dog house. Sophia entered the dog house in a Community Projects Contest in the Page County Fair in Iowa and won a blue ribbon for her work. The dog house was then donated to the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office to be used for a new K9 they are in the process of purchasing.

Sophia spoke with local companies that donated the wooden pallets she used. She took them apart and removed all the nails before using a variety of power tools to measure, cut, stain and assemble the dog house. The dog house is insulated and comes complete with a dog bed that she purchased with her own money.

Sophia is the daughter of Andy and Amie Riley of Tarkio. Andy is a deputy with the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office.

Nodaway County Sheriff Randy Strong said, “It’s great to see a local youth being so thoughtful and doing such a great job to help law enforcement.”