CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The May 11 mauling of a Cedar Springs Road woman by a group of three dogs comes at a time when some Bradley County leaders have been voicing recurring concerns over the absence of dedicated animal control services for residents living outside of Cleveland.
In early 2014, the county entered into an $80,000 animal sheltering agreement with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Bradley County. The agreement calls for the organization to provide animal pickup services for county emergency responders, but not residents.
"Were the savings worth it?" asked Bradley County Commission Vice Chairman Jeff Yarber.
The county was projected to spend more than $330,000 for animal shelter and residential animal pickup services in 2014 if it had maintained its longstanding agreement with Cleveland Animal Control.
The victim of the dog attack, Catherine Ann Riddle, was "bleeding from arms, legs and stomach," complaining of severe pain and unable to move one of her arms, according to 911 records of the incident.
Riddle underwent surgery at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga the evening of the attack, said Ed Ramsey, spokesman for the sheriff's office.
Billy RogersBilly Rogers, of Carter Road, was charged with three felony counts of "dog at-large with serious bodily harm," said Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson in a news release.
Rogers remains in custody under a $15,000 bond, according to Bradley County General Sessions Court records.
His hearing is scheduled for May 28.
The dogs are being held for observation by the SPCA of Bradley County.
In November 2014, complainant Adam Goins was bit on the lower leg after four of Rogers' dogs crossed into a neighbor's property and surrounded him, according to a incident report filed by county deputies.
Yarber would not speculate on whether dedicated animal control services could have prevented the second attack, but said it concerned him that the May 11 attack involved "a repeat offender."
In a recent meeting with county commissioners, Watson said that handling animal-related calls also has generated some concern within his department. At this time, no deputies are specially trained or equipped for animal control services, he said.
"In my opinion, Bradley County should be enforcing leash laws, and animal owners need to make sure their animals are restrained or constrained," SPCA President Ed Elkins said.
An April 28 proposal -- issued by an ad hoc animal control options committee whose members include commissioners Thomas Crye and Dan Rawls, both members of the SPCA's board of directors -- to let Bradley County handle Cleveland's animal shelter and pickup needs "for an amount not to exceed $300,000" has been met with some skepticism.
"I don't know why we would give away our animal control to people who are not keeping their animals under control with wild dogs on the loose," Cleveland Vice Mayor George Poe said.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.