The Genesee County Animal Control Shelter says it threw out a controversial policy banning non-residents from adopting dogs.
The shelter says the Department of Agriculture suggested the policy years ago as a way to deal with the fact that a license must be obtained from the county where an animal resides.
In a memo, the shelter announced it is changing the rules in order to prioritize the placement of dogs over licensing, prevent over-crowding, and save the lives of dogs.
Now all animals at the shelter may be adopted by any person or group that meets the shelter guidelines for adoption.
County residents will still be given first dibs on all dogs for the first five days they are up for adoption at the shelter. After a five-day period, anyone will be able to adopt eligible dogs.
