The town of Hope will be converting an unused town building into an animal shelter in honor of former Town Councilwoman Paula Pollitt.

Pollitt died last year and was an animal advocate, including training therapy dogs used at Columbus Regional Hospital. The Town Council approved spending up to about $24 thousand dollars to convert a former wellhouse on Jackson Street into a shelter named in Pollitt’s memory.

The town already owns the structure and has been paying utilities and upkeep on it. Town Manager J.T. Doane said the town received bids and estimates for other properties of about $24,000 but he thought by using the existing building the town can do the work for less than that.