Officials in Signal Mountain think $36,000 a year is too much to pay to take 10 stray animals off the mountain.
So rather than contracting with Chattanooga’s Humane Educational Society, as it has done for 10 years, Signal Mountain expects to save money by contracting with the city of Cleveland.
“To take less than 10 animals off the mountain and pay $36,000 a year was just too high to us,” said Signal Mountain Town Manager Honna Rogers. “It was a high cost for what we do.”
Instead of paying a flat annual rate of $36,000, Signal Mountain will pay only for the care of each animal it sends to the Cleveland shelter, Mrs. Rogers said. The basic fee is about $5 to $7 a day per animal, she said.
Cleveland animal control officials say stray dogs are held at least three days before they are euthanized according to state law. Animals may be euthanized on the fourth day. However, members of the city’s Animal Advisory Board said last week that pets surrendered by people who can’t keep them any more aren’t subject to the wait and may be immediately euthanized.
Guy Bilyeu, the Humane Society’s executive director in Chattanooga, said he had not heard of Signal Mountain’s intention to end the contract.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” he said. “Usually, they give an official 90-day notice.”
He said the $36,000 a year is a result of charging $4.92 per capita for each resident in the town.
The contract with the Humane Society ends in mid-April and the contract with Cleveland begins immediately after that, Mrs. Rogers said.
Some animals from Signal Mountain may also go to the East Ridge animal shelter, Mrs. Rogers said.
The Cleveland animal shelter has extra space. It takes in about 20 animals a day, but can hold up to 150 animals, including cats, dogs, pigs and chickens, said Executive Director Gene Smith.