The county remains committed to resolving its problems with the Cherokee County Humane Society rather than picking another pet adoption agency, a county councilman said.

Councilman Bailey Humphries, who chairs the Pubic Works Committee, said the county has fielded calls from other pet rescue groups interested in serving as the adoption coordinator at the county animal shelter.

Humphries said some groups expressed a desire to become the sole adoption arm, while others wanted to offer their services until the county reaches an agreement with the local Humane Society.

The local Humane Society suspended its adoption services at the animal shelter on June 10 after talks with the county's Public Works Committee over how to handle strays who are too young to be spayed or neutered under veterinarian guidelines stalled.

Strays are taken to the shelter, and after a minimum 5-day holding period, those that are too young or underweight to be sterilized are killed. The Humane Society wants to assume the liability of placing the puppies into foster care until they are mature enough to be sterilized.

County officials have argued that state law makes the county liable for ensuring an animal has been sterilized after its release. However, the local Humane Society claims the statute is clear that the person adopting the animal — not the county — would be responsible for paying a $200 penalty if the animal is not sterilized.

Humphries said the county is still awaiting a ruling from the state Attorney General's Office, which has been asked to clarify the statute.

"There is no case law on this," Humphries said. "We just want to know if the county is still liable once the animal leaves the shelter."

Humphries said he will likely give an update on the shelter issue at today's Cherokee County Council meeting.