NC animal shelter to develop program for pet surrender prevention

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GREENSBORO, N.C. — A new program in Greensboro, North Carolina is aiming to keep more pets at home with their families and out of animal shelters.

Employees of a Guilford County animal shelter have started going door to door, talking to dozens of pet owners, and asking them questions.

They are also bringing pet owners pet food and giving rabies shots at homes.

The shelter director Jorge Ortega said this helps identify the real reasons people surrender their pets.

"So as Animal Services we have the opportunity to track all of our calls and where they come from so we can do some strategic mapping to identify where the calls are coming from or the reasons we're being asked to respond," Ortega said.

Organizers said the program is in its early stages, but the model is already working in cities like Charlotte.

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