We, the undersigned, respectfully request the Bradley County Commission take immediate action to approve the rezoning of property for the SPCA of Bradley County's new, state-of-the-art animal adoption center.

For the past decade, the SPCA of Bradley County has served this community’s abandoned, neglected and abused animals under a no-kill shelter model until they’re placed in permanent homes.

In 2022, the SPCA announced the "Time to Build" campaign, enlisting support from hundreds of individual donors in Bradley County. From its inception, this campaign was designed to build a brand new animal shelter in Bradley County. The current SPCA facilities are woefully inadequate, and a new adoption center would not only provide a safe environment for families to meet their furever friends, it would also allow the SPCA to accept more animals, provide more services, and give our county's most vulnerable creatures a worthy shelter in which to stay.

Earlier this year, with the success of the SPCA's public capital-raising campaign, the SPCA of Bradley County submitted the successful bid to Bradley County government to purchase a piece of land for the expressed purposes of constructing an adoption center. The commission voted 13-1 to accept SPCA’s bid. The SPCA of Bradley County stated clearly the purpose for our bid and were assured support from the commission. The SPCA remains hopeful this remains the case.

We, the undersigned, urge the Commission to follow through with their support and approve rezoning for the proposed property. This new shelter will provide the community with improved animal care and control services, will allow for indoor dog runs, and will be a beautiful, clean, and well-maintained example of the good Bradley County can do for "the least of these."

By voting to approve the zoning changes and making the land viable for a new animal adoption center, the Bradley County Commission will be demonstrating its commitment to support the community’s abandoned and neglected animals. It will also be an overwhelming affirmation to the animals and Bradley County animal lovers to follow through with the sale of the property.

Together, we can build a safer future for our endangered animals, our community, and our children.