Sevier County animal intake center to close; is eminent domain the solution?
Pets Without Parents is slated to close effective July 1
Sevier County animal intake center to close; is eminent domain the solution? Pets Without Parents is slated to close effective July 1 Check out this story on knoxnews.com: https://knoxne.ws/2rGenNT
Mary Constantine, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 3:01 p.m. ET May 14, 2018 | Updated 5:40 p.m. ET May 14, 2018
Pets Without Parents intake center.(Photo: Mallory Bertrand)
Pets Without Parents, the official animal intake center for Sevier County, Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, will close July 1.
That's according to Perrin Anderson, Sevier County's assistant county mayor for governmental affairs.
The county was informed of the closure last week by a member of the board of directors.
In July 2017 Pets Without Parents, operated by president and co-founder Lory Souders, was chosen to succeed the Sevier County Humane Society as the shelter that takes in stray animals picked up by the county. The change followed a tumultuous negotiation between the Humane Society and Sevier County and its municipalities.
Sevier County Humane Society had previously held the contract since 1974.
According to a written statement from Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters, on May 10 the county budget committee met and discussed options for moving forward with county animal services when the PWP facility closes.
One option was a proposal made by Sevier County Humane Society to temporarily work with the county for 18 months.
That was rejected by the budget committee because of "the poor working relations in the past," Waters said.
The second option was to find a temporary facility in which an intake center could operate for 12-24 months to be overseen by people previously affiliated with the Sevier County Humane Society.
Sevier County Commissioners Bryan Delius and Mary Davis attended the meeting and raised the question of whether the county could declare eminent domain to acquire the 959 Gnatty Branch Road property, which is home to Sevier County Humane Society.
Waters told the committee he was reluctant to try to acquire the property through eminent domain but said the county would research the possibility at the request of the budget committee.
"While I understand the committee's frustration, I am always very reluctant to use the power of condemnation (via eminent domain) unless absolutely necessary," Waters said. "Therefore, I continue to believe the best solution for our citizens and the animal welfare is for the cities and the county to agree on the second proposal, working with experienced people on a short-term shelter, while continuing the process of building a county and cities operated facility."
The announcement of Pets Without Parents' planned closure comes in the wake of social media outrage last month over the euthanization of a number of sick cats at the facility.
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