GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — Stricter enforcement of long-standing state rules is creating new challenges for the Guilford County Animal Shelter, adding strain to an already overburdened operation.
Under policies recently enforced by Guilford County, every donation from pet food to toys must be inventoried, valued and approved before being used. Though these rules have been part of North Carolina’s budget ordinance for years, this marks the first time the county has implemented them fully.
“The process hasn’t been easy because there’s been a lot more questions than answers,” said Jorge Ortega, the shelter’s director.
Speaking to county commissioners on Thursday, Ortega outlined the impact of the changes on the shelter’s day-to-day operations.
“Here are these things that we’ve been doing this way that should have been done this way,” Ortega said. “So now we’re just adjusting, and it’s been a challenge.”
Under the policy, all donations are classified as county property that’s subject to rules typically reserved for large assets.
“If we receive that in-kind donation, it does become county property. Unfortunately, the rules don’t distinguish between a bag of dog food and a county vehicle, so there’s certain rules,” Ortega said.
The new process has created delays with donated items often sitting in storage while awaiting approval.
“Storage has become a challenge,” Ortega said. “But we have been learning as we go and finding out how we can be more efficient with this process.”
The shelter is also working to address how these changes impact its ability to distribute donations to pet owners in need. Ortega said he has already begun collaborating with the county attorney and local non-profits to develop a system to get these supplies out more efficiently.
“We’re looking at all angles and options to improve this process,” Ortega said. “There’s days where it’s really challenging. Morale is challenged here every day. This is a very passionate service that we provide to the community … very compassionate service we provide to the dogs and cats under our care.”
