Shelbyville councilors used a May 23 budget workshop to discuss animal-control enforcement and a staff proposal to create a standalone Animal Care and Control director position.

Police and legal staff told the council that municipal animal-control violations are civil in Tennessee and that enforcement options are limited when state law does not provide a criminal remedy. The city's attorney and police representatives explained that municipal fines (one example cited in the workshop was up to $50 per day per violation) can be imposed, but collecting those fines and sustaining repeated enforcement requires significant staff time and court resources. City staff said that only in cases where state statute applies (for example, cruelty or immediate public-safety risks) can officers take stronger immediate action.

The discussion followed a recent complaint about roosters kept within city limits; staff reported that the owner had been contacted and said they would relocate the animals outside the city limits. Council members raised concerns about piecemeal enforcement and asked for a clear, resourced enforcement strategy before enacting new municipal rules. The police chief and city attorney noted that sustained enforcement requires staff capacity and case management.

City staff proposed creating a dedicated Animal Care and Control director post, with a rough annual cost estimate of about $74,000 (salary plus benefits). Council members debated whether the proposal should be funded in the current tight budget year, with some members expressing support for adding enforcement capacity and others urging caution because of the fiscal constraints.

In the workshop, council signaled support to move the proposal forward for further review and budget consideration, and directed staff to provide precise cost estimates, legal pathways for enforcement, and an operational plan that specifies how enforcement would be conducted and what outcomes the city should expect. Staff agreed to return with the requested information at the next budget workshop.