During a Monday afternoon work session, the Bradley County Commission discussed the problem of stray animals in the county.
Commissioner Dan Rawls noted that while the SPCA is required to handle dangerous animal situations, the agency is not required to pick up strays.
Vice Chairman Jeff Yarber stated there was no way to know if an animal was dangerous or simply a stray until it attacked.
Commissioner Howard Thompson said, "It's a growing problem that we're going to face some time or later." He said strays can sometimes be a danger to vehicles.
Commissioner Bill Winters suggested hiring someone full-time to work with law enforcement and conduct animal pickup.
He said it would be less expensive than the county's previous contract with the city for animal control.
Vice Chairman Yarber disagreed, saying he believed one person would not be enough. He said the county would have to continue hiring new a staff.
Commissioner Charlotte Peak said if the SPCA had "raised the extra 20,000 a month it said it was going to," then the county could work out some type of program with them.
Commissioner Rawls said, "I think that the SPCA is doing an admirable job." He said their problems had come from certain volunteers and various groups trying to keep them from succeeding.
He said, "Eighty percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the people."
Commissioner Winters said, "The no-kill thing is very difficult for a public facility like ours to deal with." He said that most public facilities are not no-kill.