Guilford County Animal Shelter

WOW...reading the reviews below, I would think that management would do something to mediate the hatefulness they are spreading...this does the dogs no good to have this underlying lack of sensitivity and social grace...as a dedicated member of a rescue organization, I would shudder to hear such comments about us...
THINK ABOUT IT!!!

I find it sad how some people criticize others who give a negative review. If that was their experience, then it's good they share to help others make decisions. Clearly not everyone has a pleasant experience. Marsha Williams, the former director, was fired so something went on at two shelters. From what I've read there have been no complaints at this shelter since being under new management.

My dog was picked up last Friday after accidentally getting lose from our yard. He was brought into the shelter at 6:37pm showing major signs of heat exhaustion. I was told they tried to cool him, gave him fluids and left him with a cooling blanket at 7:30pm. My dog died in the night!! My dog had a microchip but we had not updated our phone number so we could not be reached, however they clearly knew this was someone's pet! Why would they just leave an animal to die in such poor health! When my husband went to pick up the dog we thought was still alive at the time, they didn't even offer to give him his body! BEYOND poor "care" for my beloved family pet!

I am a dog lover & have been to the shelter & online many times. What bothers me most is the misrepresentation of a dog by breed to get it adopted out. The title most used that I notice is "lab mix" or "retriever mix". Just by physical appearance, most these dogs have neither of these breeds in their gene pool. I would identify them as pits or pit bull mixes. For certain people/ owners, these breeds would be okay. But for first time owners or families with children, I think this shelter is doing a disservice to the community. When a person or parent & child come looking for a new pet/dog, it should be as accurately represented as possible. A vet who checks them in upon arrival may be a good source. I just don't like people getting hoodwinked! My advice do your research on what kind of dog you want & then look for a match. But know enough to know what you are purchasing for a dog life commitment. Thanks for reading.

We adopted a year ago and everyone was wonderful to deal with. Our dog was healthy, and still is. We highly recommend adopting from the shelter. Maybe the people that posted negative reviews below need to work there for a week. The employees and volunteers go through a lot and do a great job to find homes for the shelter animals.

It saddens me that the animals will have to pay the price for all the negative comments left on these reviews. I currently adopted a Cat from this shelter and have nothing but good things to say about it. The cat came with a lot of aids and coupons to help me start out with caring for my animal. The foster parent has been nothing but awesome, answering any questions I have in regards to the Cat. My daughter's life and my life has been changed in a positive way since we adopted our new pet family member and I have received nothing but Great advice with every question I have asked since I have adopted this 4 1/2 year cat...from a person with Guilford County Animal shelter. I notice these reviews are EXTREMELY back dated so please look at new reviews regarding this Shelter as I hate to think the animals are the ones that are going to suffer.

I wish the program would let me give it less than one star, because it doesn't even deserve that many. I just adopted a kitten from the shelter about 10 days ago and had to take him back due to sickness and eliminating on the carpeting in my house. After several hundred dollars in vet bills and lots of medication, could not get him healthy. When I returned him to the shelter, I was treated with nothing but rudeness and hostility. I already felt bad about having to take him back, but the lady who took him in was talking about me behind my back about how I probably don't know how to clean a litterbox and then made comments to my kitten about "having to go back to prison." Her comments were like adding salt to the wound. Nothing but rudeness - I was shocked. Wish I had read the posts here before adopting. I will never go back, and they will never receive any donations from me. I love animals, but can find some other reputable and compassionate organization to help.

If you want to adopt from the shelter, foster for 2/3 months first to have time to know if the animal is healthy. They are adopting out KNOWN sick animals, then refuse to do anything about it. I adopted a dog on July 9th, questioned vet about health...'oh, he's fine'. I have since spent $275.00 for vet bills and it still is not over. I have to take him to weekly treatments. When I took the dog back to the shelter on the 7th day after adopting, I asked the girl...'so if my dog dies, I'm just out of a dog and my money?' She said "YES"

It is hard to say anything bad about animal shelters, because they do a good service for our community. They give animals a second chance and even took care of my dog after he bit someone and quarantined him for the required 10 days.



The thing they could work on is their customer service. The staff has been nothing but rude to my wife and I through this whole ordeal, and have refused to give us any information about our dog. Even when they called us letting us know we could pick up our dog, they treated us like criminals and were very rude. They even flat out hung up on our vet when she requested information about the dog.



I love that we have this service here, but I really wish they would treat the community better. I think we will find another organization to donate to from now on.



**UPDATE**

We finally were able to pick up our dog after his 10-day quarantine, and what we saw was appalling. Our dog was covered from head to toe in his own urine and feces. The staff also had no idea what paperwork needed to be filled out in order for us to take our dog back, and the whole process took an hour and a half. Incompetent doesn't begin to describe the staff here. If you need to have your pet quarantined for a rabies observation, do yourself the favor and spend an extra $10 and take him/her to your vet. We were mortified and will never deal with this shelter again.

The rude girl is Manager, Sami and she is rude to everyone. Management is aware of this, but doesnt care as this employee is probably one of the MANY family members Director Marsha Williams has given a high-paying job. Every tax payer and animal lover should attend a County Commissioner Meeting and go on record with their complaints. It would be staggering. Are you paying attention Marilyn?

There was a petite black girl with glasses at the front who politely denied me adoption because I hadn't paid my pet deposit. My leasing office had to call back and clarify I was 2 yes good pay before they let me adopt. I just hate this girl for smiling as my kid cried about us being declined. Tg leasing called Guilford for me!



They kept my dog a week and released him immediately after surgery. He could barely walk 5 steps! They handed me doxy for a "respiratory infection" and pushed me out the door.

My dog had green watery stool with a drop of blood and no pain meds. When I called to discuss this, they immediately said, "Call your vet."



I was told a half pill of doxy daily and all pills were halved, but one paper said a quarter tablet twice a day. I noticed that my dog has been on doxy since early July. After 2 days of crushing uneven amounts of quarter pills, I stopped giving the meds and his stool/energy improved instantly!



I'm afraid of what my vet may find. My dog is family and we will do whatever necessary for him. Guilford made the entire adoption process unpleasant and difficult. I do not trust their staff's knowledge one bit!



One good thing, the morning staff was super friendly and very educated about almost everything. You can tell they enjoy seeing dogs find a home...unlike that awful power-driven broad at the front desk...

I just adopted 3 cats from the Animal Shelter late yesterday afternoon (all were spayed/neutered the evening before). I was given medication for them for a upper respitory infection (I did not realize you could operate on animals that were sick). When I brought home the cats, one of them started pacing the floor and crying. I tried comforting him, giving water and food and soon he began panting. It was after hours for any vet, so I immediately called the After Hours Clinic and was told to bring the cat to them immediately. The cat had a 106 temperature (and was told by the vet it was a miracle the cat was still alive). After blood work was done to determine none of his organs were damaged, they immediately gave him fluids and then medication. After keeping him overnight (and a bill for $550), I was able to bring him home. Soon another cat started looking sluggish and I was able to take her to my personal vet. Her temp was 103. I called the Animal Shelter and asked to speak with the Director about the health of the cats. I did not want to give them back, just wanted answers as to how they could allow sick and dying animals to be adopted. The Director, Marsha, would not talk to me, but through one of the volunteers told me that I could bring back the animals and get a refund. I thought after spending $240 to adopt the animals and given another $100 for a donation, I would at least get the respect of a phone call. From now on my donations will go to another animal shelter.