Home Depot grants SPCA of Bradley County $15,000 for improvements

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — The SPCA animal shelter of Bradley County is closed for the next two days, but for a good reason. They are getting a generous $15,000 grant from the Cleveland Home Depot to make improvements.

“Home Depot has granted us $15,000 to make significant improvements to our facility. The main thing being securing a perimeter fence, an 8-foot perimeter fence around the building,” said the Director of Bradley County SPCA, Melissa Smith.

This was a long time coming for the animal shelter as the building was falling apart.

They had many kennels that were zip tied, holes in the sides of kennels allowing dogs to escape and roam free. But a concerned volunteer for the shelter reached out to Home Depot for a helping hand.

“One of our newer volunteers saw the state of the current facility and she went over to the Cleveland Home Depot to ask for supplies. She happened to meet Martin Tinsley, the store manager of Home Depot, and they quickly approved our grant,” said Smith.

The SPCA of Bradley County and the Cleveland Home Depot had never collaborated before. But Martin Tinsley wanted to support one of Cleveland’s most valuable businesses.

“I was actually pretty shocked that we had never partnered up with the SPCA before. Now that we have that opportunity, and they know that they actually have support, because the SPCA here doesn’t get a lot of support. I think it’s a partnership we’re going to look to grow,” said Tinsley.

Some other future plans include a new dog park where future adopters can interact with their soon to be pet.