Volunteer Angela Kimsey takes a moment to visit with a cat while she cleans up a the SPCA of Bradley County Animal Shelter.CLEVELAND, Tenn. - With its "no-kill" mission ending Jan. 1, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Bradley County hopes to reduce its shelter population before it has to consider euthanizing animals for lack of space.
On Nov. 17, the SPCA board of directors voted 3-1 to set the shelter capacity at 40 dogs and 30 cats. Directors have been weighing challenges posed by the open-intake policy required by the shelter's $80,000 annual agreement with Bradley County.
Board Secretary/Treasurer Chris Turner called the decision to consider euthanasia difficult and heartbreaking. The board also has pledged a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $3,000 through Dec. 31, for donations to help pay to take animals to other rescue organizations and shelters.
Cleveland For a No-Kill City, an animal rescue network described by SPCA founding member and Dixie Day Spay director Betti Gravelle as her "army," has responded by seeking donations and volunteers for its new "transport team."
The organization previously worked similarly with the SPCA, said Jeanine Warren, a no-kill representative, in a news release.
Shelters in areas that have affordable and accessible spay/neuter operations, particularly in the Northeast, "are often willing to take dogs from shelters in the South because they have local adopters waiting for new furry family members," Warren said.
In a Sept. 29 meeting, Gravelle reported that a proposed shipment of SPCA animals to Minnesota would cost $1,500 and require only that the animals be vaccinated before transport. The recipients would handle spaying/neutering, she said.
"All the rescues have been verified, and all the animals will be going to good homes," said Gravelle, according to board minutes.
On Nov. 24, SPCA board President Ed Elkins could not immediately confirm if the SPCA receives notifications about the spaying/neutering of transported animals or details about their final placement.
Elkins also could not confirm whether the SPCA shelter office retains documents on animal transports.
In February, Dixie Day Spay and Cleveland For a No-Kill City were linked to a raid on the Puppy Patch, a Morristown, Tenn., animal rescue, that resulted in more than 60 charges of animal cruelty for its operators.
Before its shutdown, the Puppy Patch had taken in 22 dogs from the Cleveland Animal Shelter with the help of Dixie Day Spay, according to Beth Foster, a Cleveland For a No-Kill City organizer and SPCA founder.
The Puppy Patch had references from established sources, but no representatives from Dixie Day Spay or Cleveland For a No-Kill City visited the operation, Foster said.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.