Gallatin County Animal Shelter still needs votes to win $10K grant

SPARTA, Ky. - The Gallatin County Animal Shelter is still on the hunt for a $10,000 grant from the Petco Foundation. The shelter in one of 100 animal shelters across the country trying to finish in the top 10 in voting on the foundations Facebook page.

Earlier Tuesday the contest page showed the shelter with 1,544 votes. With the contest ending this coming Friday, friends of the shelter are urging people to vote. One local business has decided to step up and encourage people to cast a vote for the shelter.

Benchmark Outdoor Outfitters in Blue Ash is offering a 10 percent discount on store purchases to anyone who goes to either their Facebook page or the Friends of the Gallatin shelter Facebook page and casts a vote for the Gallatin County Animal Shelter.

Store owner Burke Herron believes the shelter deserves the communities support. "I thought it was important. I didn't know that they were one of the few no kill shelters. We want to raise awareness, let people know how rare and special they are and how much work goes into running a facility like that and the sacrifice people have to make," he said.

Benchmark Outfitters has a history of supporting local charities in Ohio and Kentucky. Burke believes it is important for businesses to help places like the shelter whenever they can.

"They rely on support from people, businesses, and the entire community to survive and stay a no kill shelter. Without donations and financial support and volunteer time they wouldn't exist."

The shelter says the need at least 1,500 more votes to even have a chance of finishing in the top 10.

You can vote once a day for the shelter until Friday. You can go to either the Benchmark Outfitters Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/The-Benchmark-Outfitter/130551546569 or the Friends of the Gallatin Shelter Facebook page www.facebook.com/FOGSKY .