October is the American Humane Association’s Adopt-A-Dog Month. The staff at Young-Williams Animal Center is hoping that Knoxville-area residents will celebrate. They have 150 reasons to hope.
Young-Williams Animal Center currently has about 150 dogs and puppies available for adoption.
“It’s unprecedented to have this many adoptable dogs at our shelter in October when we’re past the typical puppy season of spring to summer,” said Tim Adams, executive director for Young-Williams Animal Center. “Our focus now is on finding these pets loving, forever homes.”
For families or individuals who are considering pet adoption, Adams encourages them to visit the animal center and meet with the staff. The knowledgeable adoption assistants at Young-Williams can help adopters find the right dog or puppy for them. Adoption fees are $150 for puppies five months and younger, $75 for adult dogs and $50 for senior animals who are seven years or older.
There are several services included in the Young-Williams Animal Center adoption fees, making the center’s adoptable pets nearly fully vetted. These are necessary procedures that range in price depending on the veterinary clinic, and if one buys a pet from a pet store or gets a free pet, these are additional costs that the new pet owner should expect.
| Service included with Young-Williams Animal Center adoption fee | Average estimated cost at a vet clinic |
| Office/health exam | $53 |
| Spay or neuter surgery | $371 or $325 |
| Microchip and microchip registration | $50 |
| DAPP vaccination (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza & Parvovirus combination) | $52 |
| Kennel Cough vaccination | $34 |
| Standard deworming | $14 |
| Heartworm test and heartworm prevention (one month) | $61 |
| Flea prevention (one month) | $12 |
| Nail trim and ear cleaning | $20 |
In total, the averaged value of services for a neutered male adult dog is about $621 and for a spayed female adult dog is about $667. Some additional services and tests are often performed for puppies, the cost of which is not factored in to these estimates.
“I don’t think you can ever put a price tag on the love, joy and benefits of owning a pet,” Adams said. “However, we know many families are on a budget, and we want to inform the community on the value provided when you adopt from your local shelter.
“If you’re considering pet adoption, please visit us. Out of about 150 dogs, we surely have your new best friend waiting.”
Young-Williams Animal Center reminds the community to please spay and neuter your pets.
The Young-Williams Animal Center is the official animal shelter for Knox County and the city of Knoxville. The center is a nonprofit organization, community-supported through public and private donations, that turns no animal away and is dedicated to the sheltering and placement of animals, general animal welfare, and public education of companion animal issues.
The Young-Williams Animal Center is conveniently located just off Sutherland Avenue at the entrance to John Tarleton Park at 3201 Division St. in Knoxville. The center is 8/10th of a mile from the intersection of Kingston Pike and Neyland Drive/Concord Street and offers animals for adoption Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 1-6 p.m.
For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, including detailed driving directions, call 865-215-6599 or visit http://www.knoxpets.org.
