We have resumed full use of our facilities, including our intake department, and Young-Williams Animal Services has returned to normal operations.

Our job is to prioritize the health and safety of animals and people in Knoxville and Knox County and create a long-lasting impact to help solve the problem of stray pets. We are proactively working to do both through programming to help pet owners and responsible sheltering practices, which include managed intake.

We also regularly seek improvement and employ national animal welfare and sheltering best practices, and it is proven that open intake does not actually improve the number of stray pets over time.

We are and will continue to assist and take animals in an emergency situation, kittens and puppies, injured or sick pets and those in need of help.

The shelter will ask for details about where and when the dog was found, its physical description – such as breed, size, color, and any identifying marks – and its behavior.

Dogs only have a 10% chance of being reclaimed once they go to a shelter. The public can help keep animals out of the shelter by looking for the owner, who typically is within a one-mile radius and usually within a couple of streets.

When you find a pet, remember two things:  search to see if the owner is looking for the pet and tell everyone about the found animal to see if anyone recognizes it. By temporarily holding a healthy and friendly pet and searching for its home, you are giving the pet a much better chance of getting back to its family. Also, post the pet on Petco Love Lost, which is linked to other neighborhood apps like Nextdoor and Ring. 

If the dog is friendly, approachable and manageable, consider holding onto it temporarily to give the owner more time to find the dog before taking it to a shelter. That reserves space in the shelter for animals who have nowhere else to go. We have launched a Friendly Finder program to formalize a network of helpers who will give a lost pet a comfortable place to stay during the stray hold period, in order to increase the chances of reuniting the pet with the owner. We will provide the food and supplies – you provide your loving home! Learn more about the program and enroll here. Check the information on Young-Williams Animal Center’s website for details and resources on how to find a pet’s owner.

The shelter will assess the dog’s health and behavior to determine its next steps. This may include holding periods to give the owner a chance to reclaim the dog, medical treatment if needed and eventual adoption if the owner cannot be found.

If you’re interested in adopting the dog, you can typically express your interest to the Intake Department. The staff can guide you through the adoption process and inform you about any possible fees or requirements.

Young-Williams Animal Shelter will bring the dog into the shelter through its normal intake process.

Young-Williams Animal Center does not want anyone to put themselves or their own pets in harm’s way. If you feel unsafe transporting the dog to the shelter, call Young-Williams Animal Services dispatch at 865-407-2229.

Young-Williams Animal Center will bring the dog into the shelter through its normal intake process. However, some landlords have allowed tenants to house a dog when it’s only a few days.

If the dog seems injured, sick or in danger (e.g., near a busy road), it’s often best to bring it to Young-Williams Animal Center where it can receive medical care and protection. If the shelter is not open, call Young-Williams Animal Services dispatch at 865-407-2229.

Consider if you have the time and space to care for the dog safely for a few days or until the owner is found. Young-Williams Animal Center can provide food, a crate and other resources if needed during the holding period.

Tennessee State Law mandates a holding period of three days if there is no ID – tag or microchip – and five days if the animal does have identification in hopes of finding the lawful owner. Barring any medically untreatable or behaviorally untreatable conditions, once the stray-hold period is up, the animal will be scheduled for a medical exam, spay/neuter surgery if needed and made available for adoption.

These questions can help you weigh the factors involved in deciding whether to take a lost or stray dog to a shelter or to hold onto it temporarily while trying to find its owner. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the dog’s safety and well-being while maximizing the chances of reuniting it with its owner.

We continue to take cats who are sick or injured, along with kittens who are too young to survive. We have cats and kittens available for adoption right now.

We do not take in community and stray cats who live outdoors and are healthy. Community cats overwhelm shelters and cause overcrowding, illness and stress.

Owned cats who roam actually are upwards of 65% more likely to go home on their own than be reunited in a shelter. On average, less than 3% of stray cats are reunited with owners at Young-Williams Animal Center. The owners assume the cat will come home. The national average of cats reunited with their owners through a shelter is approximately 4%.

We strongly advocate for pet cat owners to keep their cats inside both for their safety and the safety of neighborhood wildlife. Pet cats can live fulfilled lives inside with enrichment like cat trees, toys, interactive play and even other cats for companionship.

Additional information about community cats is available at https://www.young-williams.org/community-cats/ with FAQs answered at https://www.young-williams.org/community-cat-diversion-faq/.