WINTON – PAWS of Hertford County is experiencing growing pains.

In order to better accommodate the abandoned/surrendered pets which this all-volunteer organization accepts, nurses back to good health and makes available for adoption, PAWS officials are in the process of adding two buildings to its compound located on Mt. Moriah Road near Winton.

On Monday at the Hertford County Board of Commissioners meeting, JoAnn Jones, representing PAWS (Protecting Animals Worth Saving), requested approval of renovation plans at the shelter. She also requested the county waive the fees for the building permits necessary to move the two buildings in place.

Jones informed the commissioners that the Hertford County Board of Education had donated two, 25’ x 35’ mobile classroom units to PAWS.

“We want to use these units to provide more space for our animals, not in an effort to bring in more animals,” Jones said.

Jones explained that the two units would be used (one each) to house cats and puppies. It will add to three other shelters used by PAWS to house the animals.

The fees associated in placing these two units at the shelter were reported to be $418.

Hertford County Manager Loria Williams asked if the units, upon being placed at the shelter, would become county property.

“They would be on county property,” said Williams, making reference to the county’s ownership of the animal shelter. “They need to be owned by the county in order to be covered by our insurance policy.”

Chuck Revelle, a Murfreesboro attorney who serves as legal counsel for the board of commissioners, confirmed what Williams was referencing.

“To have property damage coverage on the county’s insurance policy, the county would have to take ownership of those buildings,” Revelle noted.

Commissioner Curtis Freeman motioned for the county to waive the building permit fees and for the county to take ownership of the two buildings. The motion passed without objection.