Resource Center
We’ve gathered resources for the most common pet-related issues.
If you have an injured pet or if you have found an injured pet after hours, here is a list of pet emergency clinics in the East Tennessee area. For a list of regular veterinarian clinics, please see our list of participating veterinarians.
Knoxville
Animal Emergency and Specialty Center
10213 Kingston Pike
(865) 693-4440
Greeneville
Animal Medical Center of Greeneville
370 Morgan Road
(423) 639-6777
Blountville
Airport Pet Emergency Clinic
2436 Hwy 75
(423) 279-0574
The Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley is dedicated to helping lost pets reunite with their owners.
Lost
- Visit your local open admission shelter
- If your pet is microchipped, call the microchip company to make sure your contact information is up to date and alert the company that the pet is missing
- Contact local veterinarian offices including the emergency clinics; if an animal is found injured they may be taken there instead of a shelter
- Post flyers, especially in your neighborhood and the area the animal was lost from
- Post a sign in your front yard and tag the window of your car with washable auto paint
- Post ads for free on PawBoost and Craigslist
- Post their picture and the area they went missing from on your local lost pets Facebook page
Found
- Visit your local open admission shelter to see if the pet has a microchip
- If you cannot keep the pet until the owner is located, the shelter will keep the animal for a period of 3-10 days in an attempt to locate the owner
- If you decide to keep the pet until owners are found, you have until 10 days after you found them before the animal is legally considered yours (in Tennessee)
- Many shelters have a lost & found log, contact shelters in your area to make a listing for the animal
- Post flyers around the area that you found the animal
- Post ads for free on PawBoost and Craigslist
- Check through local lost animal pages on Facebook and make a post of your own of their picture
Dog Enrichment
Check out these tips for your canine companion animals.
Mental Stimulation Ideas:
1. Fill a hollow toy with peanut butter and freeze it, making it a longer-lasting treat.
2. Hide some of your dogs’ toys around the house for a treasure hunt.
3. Go slow on your daily walk so your dog has time to smell all the scents in the area and change your normal walking routine for new scents.
Physical Stimulation Ideas:
1. Go for a walk, run or hike.
2. Play fetch with your dog’s favorite toy or toys.
3. Play watersports with your dog using the sprinklers or hose.
DIY Enrichment Toys:
1. Rope toy made from old t-shirts
2. Scent games
Cat Enrichment
Check out these tips for your feline companion animals.
Mental Stimulation Ideas:
1. Allow your cat to hunt for its food by either getting a slow feeder or little mice toys that you fill up to feed your cat.
2. Set up a bird feeder in your yard near a window so your cat can look outside.
3. Leave a screen playing bird-watching videos or aquarium videos.
Physical Stimulation Ideas:
1. Get your cat moving by letting it chase a laser or other moving cat toys.
2. Get a scratching post or cat tower so that your cat can scratch and jump around in their own space.
3. Teach your cat to walk on a leash or consider building a catio.
DIY Enrichment Toys:
Rehoming a pet is never an easy choice to make. If you need assistance caring for your pet, we hold a monthly Pet Food Pantry which can help you with food. Young-Williams Animal Center here in Knoxville also has some amazing resources for pet owners in need. If rehoming is the option you’d like to pursue, see below for some options.
Online Listings
Join and post an ad on one of several local Facebook groups.
– Animal Lovers Group of Tennessee
– East Tennessee Pets
– Homeward Bound Animal Rescue
– Knoxville Animal Rehome/Lost and Found
– Knoxville Pet Lovers Adopt/Rehome/Chat
– Tennessee Animal Rescue/Rehoming/Support
Adopt a Pet allows you to create a profile for your animal online for nearby would-be pet owners to view.
Young-Williams partners with Home To Home, allowing Knox County residents to post their animals for free to be seen by potential adopters.
Contact Breed-Specific Rescues
The below rescues are breed-specific dog rescues who may be able to take your dog. Many rescues are just as crowded as at-large shelters, but it is worth reaching out to any that match your animal before considering surrender at your local shelter.
Basset Hounds, Belly Rubs Basset Rescue – An all-volunteer organization working to find good homes for abandoned, abused and unwanted Basset Hounds and Basset mixes in Tennessee, Northern
Mississippi, and Eastern Arkansas.
Beagles, SOS Beagle Rescue – The SOS (Save Our Snoopies) Beagle Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of beagles by sheltering homeless or abandoned dogs and adopting
them to loving homes.
Bloodhounds, East Tennessee Bloodhound Rescue – East Tennessee Bloodhound Rescue is located deep in the backwoods of Powell, Tennessee. They Rescue Bloodhounds simply because of their love of the breed.
Boston Terriers, Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee – The Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee is an established non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming Boston Terriers.
Boxers, East Coast Boxer Rescue – East Coast Boxer Rescue is a nonprofit rescue that helps all abandoned and abused boxers on the East Coast of the US.
Boxers, Middle Tennessee Boxer Rescue – A non-profit animal rescue focused on rescue, re-home, and education of the boxer breed in Middle Tennessee since 1990.
Colliers, TriState Collie Rescue – TSCR is a non-profit that is a volunteer and foster-based rescue
headquartered in Ohio. They provide all veterinary care, housing, assessment and general
training for owner-surrendered, breeder released, stray or neglected dogs.
Dachshunds, Tennessee Dachshund Rescue – An all-volunteer rescue based in middle Tennessee with foster homes throughout the state. They are dedicated to saving Dachshunds in Tennessee & the surrounding area.
Doberman, Tennessee Doberman Rescue – VSDR was founded April 1, 2018 by a dedicated group of volunteers wanting to create a harmonious rescue to assist Dobermans in need from Tennessee and surrounding states.
German Shepherds, Imminent Danger German Shepherd Rescue – Imminent Danger German Shepherd Rescue is a no-kill, all-volunteer organization whose members are passionate about German Shepherd Dogs.
Golden Retrievers, Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Rescue – TVGRR is a non-profit organization which relies totally on donations from adopters, friends, family, and all Golden lovers.
Great Danes, Southern Style Great Dane Rescue – SSGDR is owned and operated by a Board of Directors and a dedicated group of volunteers. We are a foster home based rescue.
Great Pyrenees, Mid-South Great Pyrenees Rescue – A 1490 Stayton Rd, Cumberland Furnace, TN 37051 rescue helping to find loving homes for dogs.
Pit Bulls, East TN Pit Bull Rescue – It is the mission of East TN Pit Bull Rescue to educate on the true nature of the dogs labeled Pit Bulls in an effort to restore their reputation – as they offer a safe
place to the homeless and abandoned while searching for loving and responsible homes.
Weimaraner, The Grayter Good Weimaraner Rescue – Make a lifetime commitment to every Weimaraner that comes through their rescue.
West Highland White Terriers, Westie Rescue of Tennessee – In existence since 2007, Westie Rescue of Tennessee, Inc. (WRT) restructured and was incorporated in 2010. Many of its members have been involved in rescuing West Highland White Terriers (Westies) or other animals for 20 years or more.
Surrender to Local Shelter
Local shelters do usually take in owner surrenders, but many are full to the point of bursting and unable to handle any more animals than they already have. If you have no success with rehoming your animal through other means, you can reach out to your local shelter to see what surrender options they have available. Most shelters, in TN and beyond, operate within a specific city/county and can only take animals from pet owners within their jurisdictions.
Quick Links
Best Friends Animal Society
Pet Assistance Resources
Knoxville Animal Control
(865) 215-7457
Knox County Animal Control
(865) 407-2229