Bar Converts to Dog-Friendly Church

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - For one community church in Austin, Texas, preparing for Sunday services takes a bit more work to convert a landmark bar into a place of worship.

If that weren’t enough, La Zona Rosa hosts worshipers and their dogs.

"We have to do more clean up than some people that have their own building," says Pastor Matthias Haeusel. "It's not so much the building, it's about the people."

It starts about two hours before the service and includes a full sweep for beer cans and any other items left from the night before. The pool room is turned into a children's area with a few minor adjustments. And just down the hall a sound stage becomes a communion area for the growing congregation.

When the church moved its venue, they wanted to make sure they weren't just centrally located, but that their services would also reflect the Austin culture.

"As people came and talked to us and had some interest," says the pastor, "we thought we can't exactly make you go home and make you drop your dog off, so just bring them on in."

It seems like a minor detail, but it's what drew Jan Byrum to make the drive from north Austin to downtown. She says, "God doesn't care where you worship. The idea is you are supposed to worship with a group of people and … they allow something that's very dear to my heart and the other pet owners."

Founding member Scott Harmon said he got a few raised eyebrows about the location, but after three months at La Zona Rosa many are singing its praises.

"It's really different than anything I've experienced before," says member Mary Hughes. "Entertainment is a big deal; you know La Zona Rosa is a landmark in Austin."

And that's why after service, the famous venue once again returns to its original state.