Young-Williams Animal Center will seek to “Clear the Shelters” on Sept. 18 by accepting
financial donations in lieu of adoption fees for pets 6 months and older.
The annual event is sponsored by WBIR Channel 10 as part of the “Clear the Shelters” campaign
nationwide. Since 2015, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations’ Clear the Shelter campaign
has helped more than 410,000 pets find new homes. Young-Williams Animal Center would like
at least 50 animals to find their forever homes on the big day.

“Campaigns like ‘Clear the Shelters’ are usually our most successful adoption events,” says
Janet Testerman, CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center. “We are hoping for our greatest
turnout yet, so we can clear our shelter and see so many pets go to the loving family they
deserve. We are grateful to partner with WBIR on this national initiative to find a home for
every pet.”

Adopters will be able to donate any monetary amount and take home an animal 6 months or
older the same day. Pets younger than 6 months are excluded from the promotion.
Adoption staff will help potential adopters find the right pet for their lifestyle and needs and
assist with completion of the adoption application. Every animal adopted during Clear the
Shelters will receive the same services covered by the regular adoption fees, which include a
veterinary exam, spay/neuter surgery, some standard vaccinations, a microchip with
registration and more.

“This campaign is a great opportunity to help many pets find their forever homes and open up
much needed space in the shelter,” Testerman says. “We encourage the community to take
advantage of this day and set up an appointment to adopt. Stop by either of our adoption
locations to find your new family member.”

About Young-Williams Animal Center
The vision of Young-Williams Animal Center is “a home for every pet.” It is the municipal shelter
of the City of Knoxville and Knox County, and each year takes in more than 9,000 animals.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Young-Williams Animal Center serves the needs of lost,
unwanted, abandoned and neglected animals. The center’s mission is to lead the community to
end pet homelessness, promote animal welfare and enhance the human-animal bond through
the shelter and placement of animals, spay/neuter initiatives and public education of
companion animal issues. Young-Williams Animal Center reminds pet owners to spay and
neuter their pets.
Young-Williams Animal Center’s main facility is located off Sutherland Avenue at 3201 Division
Street. For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, including hours of
operation, call 865-215-6599 or visit http://www.young-williams.org//.

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About Clear The Shelters
Clear The Shelters™ / Desocupar Los Albergues® is an annual, nationwide pet adoption
campaign that is spearheaded by NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of
NBCUniversal. Every year, NBCUniversal’s TV stations (NBC and Telemundo owned stations),
plus affiliated stations partner with local animal shelters and rescues in their communities to
host Clear The Shelters events. NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations’ Clear The Shelters
campaign was inspired by a 2014 North Texas pet adoption event hosted by NBC 5 / KXAS and
Telemundo 39 / KXTX and dozens of area shelters that resulted in the most adopted pets in one
day for North Texas. Since 2015, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations’ Clear The Shelters
pet adoption campaign has resulted in more than 410,000 pets finding new homes. Visit
ClearTheShelters.com, DesocuparLosAlbergues.com for more information.

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