The Brookhaven Animal Rescue League, an all-volunteerorganization, received a $20,000 grant that will allow the leagueto make modifications to a new animal facility that will soon beunder way.

BARL are pursuing a new facility to house dogs and cats.Currently, dogs are housed in an outdoor facility near Hartley GoveSons Thermometer plant and cats at local veterinarian clinics,league officials said. The new facility will be built near theplant.

“The cats are at the vets and we have to pay boarding fees.Having this building will save us a lot of money,” said RustyAdcock, a BARL volunteer who is spearheading facilityfundraising.

BARL does not receive any governmental funds and relies solelyon fundraisers, donations, and grants. Susan Steen, grant writerfor BARL, recently acquired a grant for the new facility.

The Frances McDonough Animal Care Fund decided to give $20,000to add indoor/outdoor runs to the proposed floor plan, Steensaid.

“The indoor/outdoor runs will provide a way for the dogs to gofrom a cage on the inside to a cage on the outside as they will,”Steen said. “Without the indoor/outdoor runs the dogs would bestuck inside unless a volunteer came and took them outside.”

Steen also added that the Frances McDonough Animal Care Fund isgiving the opportunity for BARL to do a match grant in addition tothe $20,000.

“For every $2 we bring in, they will give us another $1 up to$5,000,” Steen said.

BARL officials expect the facility’s foundation to be laidwithin the next two weeks. Construction volunteers will then beneeded.

“It will take a lot of volunteers when this building goes up. Wewill need the help of carpenters,” Adcock said.

Along with grants and donations, fundraisers sponsored by BARLvolunteers have been very successful.

“I want to thank everyone in the community for their support forall these years, both volunteers who have come out and worked withthe animals and those who have made donations,” Steen said.

In addition to the current phase one of construction BARL isalready looking to the future of the league.

“The guy drawing up our plans already has phases two, three andeven four in his head,” Adcock said. “This is only thebeginning.”