FERRIDAY, La. &045; A local nonprofit is now one step closer toward making a Concordia Parish animal shelter a reality.

This week, the Concordia Animal Welfare and Rescue Shelter received a $15,000 grant from the state’s Rural Department Office to renovate a building for use as a shelter.

The building, plus $1,500 from the Town of Ferriday, served as the organization’s match for the grant, said the group’s community outreach coordinator, Lisa Smith. In addition, about $1,400 was also raised from a poker run held recently at Lake St. John.

A deal should be signed soon for the building, which is located in Ferriday.

&uot;It’s a bare metal building &045; you have to have a lot of vision,&uot; to picture it as a functioning shelter, Smith said.

But with the funds in hand, it should only take six months to renovate the building.

Needed improvements include installation of a heating and filtration system. &uot;We’re getting estimates now,&uot; Smith said.

Inside, the facility will house cats and small dogs. Outside, temporary enclosures will be erected for large dogs until money can be raised to install permanent kennels. Once the facility is in operation, it will be manned by volunteers.

CAWS is also working to establish programs such as behavior assistance, a pet identification database and a spay and neuter program. The group encourages anyone interested in volunteering for the organization or needing assistance to call (318) 757-0937 or (601) 445-0712.