STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — With dozens of animals to care for and two staff members, the Stokes County Animal Shelter has made some recent policy changes.

On June 14, it announced it would no longer accept strays or animal surrenders.

“It’s just unbelievable the number of animals people just want to give up,” said County Manager Rick Morris.

It’s a change Morris says will cut costs for cleaning supplies and spay and neutering.

Morris says the changes, along with getting rid of one of their staff positions, should save the county about $40,000.

“People are either going to be upset by the fact that we’re not doing what we’ve been doing with the surrenders and so forth or they’ll be upset when the animals get in there and we get overwhelmed and fail inspection,” Morris said.

From now on, the shelter will only provide the basics required by state law.

It will accept rabid, injured and dangerous animals.

It will also take in victims of animal cruelty and animals being used for investigations.

They are changes Morris hopes will save many animals from having to be euthanized.

“It’s doing a favor to the animals by not putting them in there,” he said.

Morris says the changes will likely be in effect until a new animal shelter is built.

A nonprofit is expected to open another shelter in the county and work as partner.

There’s no word yet on when that second shelter will be built.