CENTER, Neb.— An animal rescue and rehabilitation center out of North Dakota is officially moving to Verdigre.

For Belle’s Sake is a non-profit animal rescue currently based in Sawyer, North Dakota.

Shelby and Christian Bird started the organization 20 years ago in South Carolina after visiting pounds and taking in, according to them, a few too many dogs for their home.

“I would fall in love with one and bring it home and try to find it a home myself, so [Christian] saw that and said I’ll buy her a couple kennels and she can do this,” Bird said. “And then those couple kennels exploded into a full blown non-profit.”

The non-profit received approval from the Knox County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, though not without pushback from community members.

Locals expressed concerns about noise, impacts on hunting, and safety.

The rescue will hold up to 24 dogs at a time, it is unknown the amount of cats that will be taken in.

The Birds said the approval is a step forward to prove that their non-profit is going to be good for the community.

Next steps for the rescue include leveling the land, adding utilities and eventually moving the shelters here.

The non-profit hopes to be fully operational in the spring.