Board members and staff of the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society expected they would face criticism when the announcement was made last week that the Gloucester-Mathews-Middlesex Animal Shelter was changing its intake policy, no longer accepting all dogs, cats and other pets that are surrendered to it.

With the exception of residents from Mathews, for which the shelter serves as the county’s animal control facility, GMHS has placed a temporary moratorium on taking animals into the shelter, unless that animal is in immediate jeopardy. Residents of Gloucester and Middlesex counties wishing to surrender an animal will be placed on a waitlist.

The move was unanimously approved last month by the GMHS board of directors. “We have to do what is right for the organization and for the community, and we’re going to do it,” said GMHS board president Richard Crowder.

If the number of intakes isn’t reduced, the level of care provided to each animal would be compromi...