3 days ago
Baxter Springs breaks ground on adoption center project
BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. — Something new coming to Baxter Springs is celebrated.
Ground was broken Wednesday morning on the land that will eventually house the Ronald O. Thomas Animal Adoption Center. It's located in the 200-block of W 3rd Street.
Donor dollars are making all of it possible and officials said it's actually been a flawless process. Along with the Thomas Foundation money is also coming from the Ross Hartley Family Foundation and the Dean and Beth Auman family.
This project has been in the works for the past two years.
'There was a definite need. Our current facility only houses about 4 dogs, and this is going to multiply that probably 10 times over, so,' said Sheldon Bales, Baxter Springs Director of Public Works.
'There's so many people dumping off dogs these days. It's — and we can't keep up right now. So this is really a great thing for this town,' said Harold Lee Simpson, Baxter Springs Animal Control Officer.
'We have a lot of good things going here in Baxter. You hear a few negative things, but we've got 99 good things going and maybe one bad thing, and that's what you hear — but we've got a lot of good stuff going on here,' said Kelly Abbott, Baxter Springs Mayor.
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Bales told us the outpouring from the community has been unbelievable since their press release went out on Monday. The facility, by the way, will house both dogs and cats.
Construction could start as soon as 90-days from now.
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