Guilford County Animal Services (GCAS) is extending hours and launching a new program called “Stray to Foster” to help address the number of strays and surrenders pouring into the Guilford County Animal Resource Center. The new “Stray to Foster” program will engage the community in fostering stray and surrendered shelter pets for 72-hours.
“We need our community to step forward to help support the overwhelming number of pets flowing into our Resource Center every day,” said Jorge Ortega, Guilford County Animal Services Director. “We cannot adopt our animals out fast enough and that forces us to make very difficult choices about the lives of the animals in our care. Our hope is that by offering a 72-hour foster program as well as extending our hours for pet adoptions, our community will join us in offering life-saving care to these pets.”
Both the “Stray to Foster” program and extended hours for adoptions aim to prevent euthanasia of animals due to space constraints at the Resource Center. When the center reaches critical capacity, GCAS must make the difficult choice to euthanize pets for space when adoptive and foster homes are unavailable.
Participants in the “Stray to Foster” program will care for an animal for 72 hours and will also be advocates for the animals during the three-day period, posting pictures and information on lost pet websites and social media. Participants will be provided with crates, food, blankets, and bowls for their temporary furry friends. Residents interested in becoming a “Stray to Foster” family should contact the Resource Center at 336-641-3400.
In addition to launching the “Stray to Foster” program, GCAS is adding more and extending hours for adoptions. The GCAS Resource Center will now be open on Mondays from noon to 4 p.m. for adoptions and will have extended hours on Saturdays from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. With these changes, the center will now be open six days a week – Wednesday through Monday – with Tuesday serving as the only day in which the center is closed for adoptions.
The Guilford County Animal Resource Center is the only public open admission animal services center in Guilford County. GCAS is committed to placing every adoptable animal into a new home. When an animal cannot be placed into a home, GCAS works collaboratively with other rescue organizations to help place specific dogs, cats, livestock, exotic and wildlife.
Think your pet may be lost? GCAS provides tips for locating your pet, a place to file a lost pet report, resources, and a stray animal gallery on the GCAS website. GCAS also operates a traditional foster pet program for those interested in providing longer term support. For those unable to foster or adopt, but who still want to support homeless pets, GCAS offers a donation portal with items needed regularly at the Resource Center.
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