PEGRAM, Tenn. (WTVF) — Two animal control officers have resigned in Cheatham County. That may not sound like a big deal until you learn that they are the only employees trained to handle animal emergencies currently on staff.
"I think for both of us, we are going to focus on our families," said outgoing Animal Control Director Kristin Reid.
Both submitted their resignations Tuesday and say the simultaneous timing was a coincidence. Reid tells NewsChannel 5 she's accepted another job out of state. The other animal control officer is switching to a job with more manageable hours.
"Finding childcare during that time and being able to keep a job. We were able to keep her employed with that but it’s still becoming a struggle. Childcare and COVID-19 really hit her family hard," said Reid.
Reid will stay on in her position for the next two weeks. In the meantime, Cheatham County leaders hope they can rely on a new animal control officer who starts later this week, and the part-time employees already on staff. However, none of the part-time employees are trained animal control officers.
Cheatham County Mayor Kerry McCarver says with at least one animal control officer in place, they can ensure services will continue. "We’ll continue to have oversight and make sure that we continue to make calls as best we can until we fill in those," said Mayor McCarver.
McCarver says they've already started the job search and hope to have a new director in place as soon as possible.
Reid says the county has given her nothing but support and doesn't expect that to change. "I fully believe the Mayor and the Cheatham County Commission and this community will continue to support us in this way," said Reid.
She hopes, even though new faces are coming to this facility, the animals in their care won't notice the difference.
