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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

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HART may get new home

Animal rescue group buys land on Highway 210 east

By JENNIFER STOCKINGER

Staff Writer

Heartland Animal Rescue Team in Baxter may have a new home in 2010.

HART, a nonprofit humane society as well as an impound-holding facility, Tuesday purchased about nine acres of land on Highway 210, east of Brainerd, across from Matty's restaurant, to build its new home, said Holly Ailts, HART executive director.

Ailts said purchasing the land was the first step. Now HART will have to raise funds to construct its new home on the property. Ailts said in 2009, HART will kick-off its campaign to raise $1 million for the building.

"We don't have any concrete plans right now because of today's economic challenges," Ailts said about constructing a building. "We understand that everyone is struggling right now so it may be hard for people to commit dollars to build a home for animals when people are losing their homes."

Ailts said if the economy continues to falter, it could be 2011 before HART would be in its new home.

Rendering/Kuepers Inc.

Ailts said HART has been looking for land for a while to build a larger facility. The new building, designed by Kuepers Inc. of Baxter, would be about 10,000 square feet.

Ailts said with the economic growth in Baxter over the years, the current HART building on Dellwood Drive has become too close to other businesses and homes and it does not fit in the neighborhood anymore.

"We've had problems with barking dogs and we want to be in a more agricultural setting," said Ailts. "We also would like a new building because our current building is outdated. We don't have proper water drainage or air flow so it's hard to keep our animals healthy."

Ailts said HART also wants to expand its services, not only to dogs and cats, but to help with horse rescues.

Susan Voss, HART board president, said, "A new facility will help us better serve the animals because we've outgrown our space and that building wasn't built for HART, but we've made do.

"The new facility will allow us to isolate animals who are sick and this will help keep our animals as healthy as possible."

Voss said plans are to also create walking trails for the pets.

"We, as a board, and the entire staff are extremely excited and very pleased with the land purchase," Voss said. "It's perfect for our mission."

For more information about donating to HART for the building project, call HART at 829-4141. Donations also may be mailed to HART, 15494 Dellwood Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401. Or donations may be made online at www.hartpets.org.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.

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