This April marks one year since Young-Williams Animal Services officially launched, taking over municipal responsibilities previously known as Animal Control in Knoxville and Knox County. But this wasn’t just a name change—it was a shift in philosophy.

We set out to reimagine what animal services could look like in our community. Instead of focusing on punishment and enforcement, our team is building a model rooted in support, prevention, and compassion—and in just one year, the impact has been remarkable.

 

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A Community-Focused Approach

One Year In: Here’s What We’ve Made Happen so far… 

• 📞 responded to 10,000+ calls
• 🏠 464 pets reunited in the field
• 🚓 Less than 50% of calls required officer dispatch
• 🌍 Miles driven = nearly 4 trips around the Earth
• 🛠️ Hundreds of field assists (leashes, food, dog houses, fence fixes & more)
• 👮‍♀️ All officers nationally trained and certified
• ⚖️ Cost of Care petition launched to speed up adoptions from court cases
• 🛑 6+ major cruelty cases investigated with law enforcement
• 🎓 Career days, school visits & hospital partnerships established
• 💡 Built a new, more compassionate model of animal services

 

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Every Animal Services vehicle is equipped with leashes, food, and even fence repair supplies—tools that allow officers to provide real help in the moment, not just write citations.

Our team meets pet owners without judgment. When someone is at risk of surrendering their pet, we work to understand what’s going on and connect them with resources—because we know that most people don’t want to give up their animals. They just need a little support.

 

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Evolving the System
We also introduced the Cost of Care petition, which helps animals caught in court cases find adoptive homes faster, avoiding long shelter stays. Our team has worked over half a dozen major cruelty cases this year, all while remaining focused on building trust and delivering solutions wherever possible.

To ensure we’re leading with professionalism, every officer is nationally trained, and we’ve hosted multiple expert-led trainings in partnership with the Humane Society of the U.S., Horse Haven of Tennessee, and TWRA.

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What’s Next
As Knoxville grows, we expect to serve even more animals and families—up to 2,400 additional cases per year. That’s why we’re expanding our outreach in areas like North Knoxville, planning neighborhood “coffee talks,” and continuing to explore ways to bring shelter and field services even closer together.

One year in, Young-Williams Animal Services is proving that a compassionate approach works. We’re proud of what we’ve built—and even more excited for what’s ahead.