Bradley County Sheriff’s Office discuss joint proposal with SPCA

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tennessee(WDEF) – The new administration from the Bradley County Sheriff’s office and the S-P-C-A of Bradley County have agreed on a new proposal to tackle an ongoing problem of stray domestic animals.

During a high-profile meeting at the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Eric Watson and the SPCA reached an agreement that would allows his deputies to handle certain situations involving stray domestic animals.

"The sheriff’s office will respond to aggressive dogs or dogs that have a medical condition or any type of animal that has been aggressive to the public," Watson said.

The Sheriff’s office also agreed to retrieve pets that require shelter when the owner is arrested, incapacitated or facing animal cruelty charges.

Meanwhile stray domestic animals that are not aggressive will be handled by the SPCA.

County Commissioner and SPCA board member Dan Rawls said the agreement is a much better plan than the failed costly agreement with the city of Cleveland.

"I think this thing can be made to work and I think it could be a good situation. We might have to tweak it; the cost might go up little bit, but it would be nowhere to what we have been involved with when we were involved with the city," Rawls said.

Calls involving wild animals that don’t pose an immediate threat will be handled by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
   
But wild animals that do pose a threat such as rabies will be handled by the SPCA.