News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County officials looking for ways to deter people from dumping their pets in front of the animal shelter.
Committee B Member Kyle Goff said shelter workers told him there has been a large increase in the number of dogs being dropped off at the shelter after-hours. Executive Assistant Brooke Luna said she will look into the possibility of adding signage to the shelter stating that dumping animals is prohibited.
“I have a trail camera that we got through the litter grant that we use for, like to catch people illegal dumping,” Luna said. “So we could have them put it there somewhere. And it has wi-fi so it saves it and then it’ll alert us.”
Shelter Volunteer Steve Kunze said they could have similar signs to those at the county’s convenience centers prohibiting people from leaving trash. Kunze said it costs the county significantly more to handle dogs left at the shelter than trash left at a convenience center.
“They’re going to go down the road and dump them out, but at least it’ll stop it a little bit,” Kunze said. “And the wireless cameras are a great idea, cellular cameras. So that we can catch people and, like you said, put it out there that, hey, we’re watching. We’ll get you. This is animal cruelty.”
Kunze said they only take dogs at the shelter but seven kittens were recently left there in a plastic container as part of the increase in abandonments.
Committee B Member Roger Mason said they would have to be careful where they place the camera to keep anyone from tampering with it.
“You’d want to put it on the inside looking out at the passing cars and stuff,” Mason said. “That might be an option we can look into.”
Committee B Chairperson Dakota White said he saw a statement from a state trooper that said abandoning animals in that way is illegal throughout Tennessee under an animal cruelty statute.
