Bradley County commissioners clash over SPCA complaint

photo 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. - Several Bradley County commissioners have expressed dismay over how Commissioner Dan Rawls addressed a 15-year-old boy's concerns that he brought before that panel Monday night.

Rawls admonished Jacob Payne for presenting complaints about the adoption of a fatally ill kitten from the animal shelter operated by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Bradley County.

"First thing is, this is not the place to address that," said Rawls, who serves on the SPCA board of directors, of complaints made by Payne's family that shelter staff were unresponsive and flippant about the situation. "This should come to the SPCA board."

The SPCA of Bradly County is a private, nonprofit organization that provides an animal shelter for all county residents in accordance with an $80,000 annual agreement with the county.

Payne said his family had to have the kitten euthanized after spending $650 in veterinary bills to save its life in the week that they owned the animal. It cost $25 to adopt the kitten, he said.

Interim manager of operations Kristin Harvey told the family that the shelter was absolved of responsibility once they signed the adoption contract and that there was only so much they could expect for a $25 adoption fee, Payne said.

"If we were made aware that there was a situation, we could have addressed it way before we had to have our kitten put to sleep," said April Payne, Jacob's mother.

Although SPCA board meetings no longer allow for public comments, Rawls said he would arrange for Payne to have an "open discussion" with Harvey about the situation.

Commissioner Mark Hall, who also serves on the SPCA board of directors, affirmed Payne's right to address the Bradley County Commission and offered his apologies to him.

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"The only thing worse than being neglected by SPCA is being neglected by your commission," Hall said. "I do want to say that this is your courthouse and this is your commission, sir -- and you have the right to be here anytime you want to speak."

Hall equated Rawls' approach with "turning a blind eye" to the problem.

In response, Rawls said the issue was a matter of addressing the "proper forum."

Commissioners Milan Blake, Bill Winters and Jeff Yarber all agreed that a county commission meeting was the proper forum for addressing public concerns.

Yarber, who previously described the SPCA's plan as "snake oil," took his comments a step further.

Every time a complaint is brought forward about the SPCA, the response is to say, "there is no issue -- shut up," he said.

The next SPCA board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Contact him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

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