A Pittsfield financial advisor challenges local business owners to join the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce to help the city's animal shelter. Berkshire reporter Brandon Walker has more.

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Laurel Bradley fills out an application to adopt a dog for her son Chris at the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter in Pittsfield.

"We just came back from dog sitting at my brothers house and Chris had so much fun. We need to get a dog for him," said Bradley.

The shelter took in some 1,000 pets last year and while the city provides the space, almost 90 percent of its $200,000 operating budget comes from donations.

"We have lots of problems. Our kennels are rusty the roof is still leaking, we don't have grates over some of our drains," said Carol Lew, shelter board chairperson.

To help with some of those concerns, a local business man is challenging his peers to step up, bringing in the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce as incentive.

"By building my business I'm able to help the Sonsini Animal Shelter by donating a $1,000 for every new member the chamber is able to bring in," said Allen Harris from Berkshire Money Management.

Through September, for every new member to the chamber, Harris and his wife, Stacy, will donate $1,000 to the shelter, and up to $25,000.

"Having somebody like Berkshire Money Management think of those issues and want to support the animals in that way is really wonderful," said Lew.

"There's a difference between a home without an animal. The home with an animal gives it a lot of soul and I think people can relate to that," said Harris.

That relation for the Bradley's is Emma. Who will hopefully soon be a new addition to their family.

"Everything about her seems perfect," said Bradley.