Guilford County is getting rid of Susie’s fund.
The fund, which is named after a dog that was severely beaten and burned in 2009 in Greensboro, was established to help abused and injured animals in the care of the Guilford County Animal Shelter.
The dog, Susie, eventually recovered and, in 2010, the state of North Carolina passed Susie’s Law, which doled out tougher penalties for animal abusers.
The fund was originally managed by the United Animal Coalition (UAC) – the group that ran the Guilford County Animal Shelter for about two decades until a major animal abuse and neglect scandal three and half years ago caused the county to take over shelter operations. At that time, Susie’s Fund contained about $234,000.
Guilford County took over the fund and, for more than a year, never used it for anything. Since 2017, however, the county has been spending the fund down and helping a large number of animals with the money. Now the balance is about half what it was.
Guilford County Attorney Mark Payne said the county has been using Susie’s Fund for its intended purpose, but he added that county administration has decided to replace it with a broader fund that would do much more than the limited role Susie’s Fund played. For instance, the new fund may be used for efforts that encourage pet adoption or take other actions that help the animals in the shelter’s care.
Payne said he doesn’t yet know what the new fund will be called.
Bev Levine, a member of the Guilford County Animal Services Advisory Board, said she was aware of the coming change. She wrote in an email that, according to what she had been told, “the county will put in place a more efficient mechanism”
Levine stated that it was her understanding that there were questions about how and when Susie’s Fund money could be used given the stated purposes for which that money had been collected years ago, under a different organization – the UAC.
Levine wrote that, according to what she has heard, “GCAS is not relinquishing the practice of getting complex medical treatment when the animals need it, just looking for the most efficient way to do so, it seems.”
Some county officials said the new fund will have fewer legal and procedural restrictions.
Guilford County Animal Shelter Director Jorge Ortega did not respond to an email or a voicemail inquiry on the matter.
I am all for expanding the reach of Susie’s Fund to help more animals. However, I do not understand why they want to change the name! Susie’s story has done so much to help, advocate, and raise awareness of the diabolical abuse some animals have endured and the need to make definite changes to rectify the situation. Susie’s story has gone nationwide and has made huge progress in this area. Why take her name off the fund? There is much to gain by building on the tremendous success of Susie and the work Donna Smith Lawrence have made. If there is worry about tainted image from the old shelter management, then distance the fund from that, but not from the one thing that instigated change and shed light on the issues we’re working so hard to alleviate/fix! Keep a close working connection with Susie and Donna Smith Lawrence!
I hope they will continue to have Susie’s name represented in the new name of the fund. We raised all that money in her name and she should still have that recognition.
I know my opinion is not impartial. I am out front and anyone who knows me, knows I love me some Susie! I am sorry if it is going to offend anyone, but this makes me sad. Not that they are going to start a new fund that is more flexible to the shelter’s needs, but that they are going to rename it. Just doesn’t feel right. The horrible abuse our sweet Susie endured, that led to funds being raised in her honor, should not be forgotten. Laws were changed and a stronger awareness about animal abuse was raised because of what she went through and survived. Her story was not only local but went National. Don’t misunderstand, I am all for more funds to help the animals, in whatever capacity needed, just wish they would not change the name or if they feel they must change it, then put Susie’s name in it somewhere.
There is no reason to change the name from Susie’s Fund…no problem with changing the procedures if it will make the funds easier to utilize where needed. This fund was started because a precious dog was terribly abused, set on fire and left to die by a horrible person. The money initially raised and the ongoing benefits were held in the honor of this dog…no other name will be appropriate or benefit abused, neglected or suffering animals like the original goal as Susie’s Fund has. Any remaining funds will blend into the regular operation funds of the shelter and raising money in the future for these cases will become a thing of the past. Donna Lawrence Smith has continued to keep this program going along with Susie…those who propose dropping the name will also be dropping the reason to have the program and it will become a distant memory…nothing ever wrong with improvement…always wrong with totally destroying proven program.
Sir I am very upset with the plans to change Susies Hope fund and take her name off. Shame on whoever is behind this and whatever “personal” reasons why they want to do this. Myself and thousands of others who have supported the fund because of Susie will fight this and spread the word about the obvious political reasons all over the US, Mexico and other countries where people support the fund because of Susie. Your Guilford County shelter has already been under the microscope for being unethical, sounds like another attempt. I am furious and we will not let this go. BarbaraBagileo
I too am all about helping more animals, but this fund was started because of Susie’s suffering and is the reason
most have donated. What is the reasoning behind changing the name? The name, the movie, Donna Smith Lawrence, and Susie are well known!
I will sign a petition and/or whatever is necessary to preserve Susie’s Fund as named!
What is this all about and what is the real reason they are trying to do this. I am thousands of others who know and have supported Donna and Suies Hope are furious and we will take up whatever we need to stop this facade of using funds ina broader way. We are not stupid and know there are personal gains or other poloticalbenefits surrounding this travesty! You have not heard the end of our outrage, in fact we are just getting started in almost everystateandevenin other countries.
“Some county officials said the new fund will have fewer legal and procedural restrictions.” Red flag! !
“Guilford County took over the fund and, for more than a year, never used it for anything. Since 2017, however, the county has been spending the fund down and helping a large number of animals with the money. Now the balance is about half what it was.” Red flag!!!
This is not only an unnecessary change but also a risky one! Susie and her story make this fund possible and it’s focus should be specifically as intended. Though adoption and spay/neuter are high priority issues, set up a separate fund(s) to address over population and high kill rates.
Do NOT dilute the purpose of Susie’s Fund with these other issues and certainly do NOT give the county or animal shelter “fewer legal and procedural restrictions” on using these funds!!
Leave Susie’s name on the fund and amend the coverage the same way insurance does.
Please regardless of the changes please leave Susie’s name on the fund. Without her and her story, there would be no fund. You really should look at the movie Susie’s Hope and see how all this came about. Do your research before you go changing the name on something. Please!!
Leave Susies name in the fund. There is NO reason to change the name. She was the reason for the fund and what started it. Why would you would you ever want to change that. Also, make sure the funds are used for the purpose it was designed for.
No one person should be able to decide about the name change. This looks to me like someone wants to use this money for nonintened purposes. The name was named after Susie and should remain that way. That is where the money came from the people donated to her recovery. And the remaining was decided by a group not one person the help animals that were abused like Susie. It should remain Susie’s Fund. Not for adoption or or stuff the shelter can do by fundraisers. Not equipment. The fund is for medical assistance for abused animals.
Please continue to use Susie’s name on the fund. She deserves it.
What a horrible idea!!! Susie’s name should be left on the fund. Susie is the reason the fund exists and because of the abuse she endured, she and the fund are able to continue to help other dogs today. Shame on Mark Payne!
I’m fine with the restructuring of the plan as long as the funds are used as originally intended. However, I feel they should keep the name of the fund as is but if the name of the fund must be changed, they need to keep Susie’s name associated with the fund.
Susie’s name should be left on it without her there woukd not be a fund..
It is ridiculous to remove her name..
DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME! Susie’s Fund is INTERNATIONALLY known as such BECAUSE of it’s poster dog, Susie. It is a dishonor to her and all the abuse she lived through to change the name. Again, I strongly urge that the name of the fund not be changed.