Volunteer Angela Kimsey takes a moment to visit with a cat while she cleans up at the SPCA of Bradley County Animal Shelter.CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Effective Jan. 1, the shelter operated by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Bradley County no longer will adhere to its original “no-kill” mission.
Numerous challenges to the nonprofit organization’s sustainability are behind the decision, SPCA board members said.
In a recent meeting, board members voted 3-1 to limit the number of animals the shelter can care for at a given time and to consider euthanasia to control the shelter population, if necessary.
The shelter, which held 105 animals at the end of September and 145 at the end of October, will care for no more than 40 dogs and 30 cats at a time beginning in January.
Board members Ed Elkins, Chris Turner and Dan Rawls voted for the change. Dr. Michael Guedron opposed it. Board members Mark Hall and Betti Gravelle, the director of Dixie Day Spay, were absent.