(La Porte County, IN) - A local animal shelter could soon feature an outdoor splash pad for dogs.

 

Bethany Lutheran Church is offering to raise the money and have it built at the Jane Bernard Animal Adoption Center near the fairgrounds.

 

Church member Carrie Garwood said a splash pad for dogs open to the public would be great for the community, asking the La Porte County Commissioners for written permissions to begin the project.

 

Garwood said the church would raise $50,000 and secure a matching grant to cover the entire cost.

 

“We can pursue the project and give whatever is left over after the thing is built back to the shelter to help fund it going into the future,” she said.

 

Garwood said the hope is to begin raising funds in December and have enough money to construct it before March.  She said the drive should be successful judging from other fundraising drives sponsored by the church.

 

“It has not been a problem in the past with some other campaigns we’ve done,” she said.

 

The commissioners voted to start the process of approving the land use.

 

“I think it’s a great idea.  It would be a great people thing.   A quality of life thing not only for the dogs, but for the people who own dogs,” said Commissioner Rich Mrozinski.   

 

Final approval will be up to the county council since there could be some future taxpayer costs for maintenance.