Financial grants are helping the Salina Animal Shelter continue to grow as a facility and in its outreach to the community.

Animal Services Manager, Vanessa Cowie stopped by the KSAL Morning News with a look at how funding over the past 18-months has helped upgrade the shelter with new kennels and flooring.

Cowie says that with the latest grant of $100,000 from the PetCo Foundation – a new cargo van purchase could help Animal Control officers connect with children at schools and keep animals safer as well.

“We go to a lot of off-site events, adoption events and when you roll up in one of those enforcement vehicles the kids kind of hug their dog and look at you like ‘oh here comes the meat wagon the guy with the net,'” she said.

“We’re trying to get away from that image. We’re not like that we provide a service.”

Cowie says the van would have the same tools and communications devices as the trucks – but better temperature control inside for the animals, and a ramp to help load the animals on board.

“Lifting those dogs up, those 100 pound dogs up to chest height. No more.”

Cowie is hoping the van will lead to better understanding between officers and animal owners throughout Salina.

“It’s a better platform for education if we can approach people with warnings, maybe connect them with the services they need,” she said.