The new Blount County Animal Center is set to open today. Located at 241 Currie Ave. in Maryville, the new animal shelter will be open Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4:30PM.

Blount County has been without an animal shelter since 2007 when County Commission ended the county's contract with the City of Maryville. Blount County Animal Control has been contracting with Loudon County to take in strays. The county also had no organized spay/neuter program.

The new shelter is opening in phases. The first phase, opening today, will address Blount County's immediate animal control needs, which include 4,000 stray and abandoned pets each year. The next phases will expand public education and animal health and welfare programs and will make services available to the community and other local governments.

The Blount County Animal Center was created through a public/private partnership with the non-profit Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation, which raises funds through private donations and is coordinating the program. The estimated construction cost is $1.6 million, with about one third of that coming from county funds and the rest through donations. Annual operating costs are expected to be over $300,000, funded through a contract with the county, adoption fees, and private donations.

You can help in a variety of ways. Click here to find out more.

It may not be too late!

AnimalWorks will be holding its 4th Annual Golf Tournament at Royal Oaks Country Club on Saturday, June 14, 2008.

AnimalWorks is a Low Cost Spay and Neuter Organization, and the only NO KILL Animal Shelter in Blount County.

This tournament flyer will provide contact details and other specifics.

WHERE: SPRINGBROOK PARK, 1537 DALTON ST., ALCOA, TN

Come out and join us at Springbrook Park for a fun filled day with your family and friends-and don't forget your dog (or other pets)! All proceeds benefit Blount County Animal Rescue Effort, an organization dedicated to educating the public about the importance of spaying/neutering, responsible pet ownership, animal welfare, rescue and adoption.

FREE ADMISSION PETS MUST BE ON LEASH AT ALL TIMES!

More info.

Smoky Mountain Pet Fair activities held all day, exhibits, vendors, rescue groups, food, music, silly pet contest. Check out the link for schedule, participants, and sponsors

Location: Springbrook Park in Alcoa.

Raising money for the Blount County Humane Society no kill shelter effort.

(Springbrook Park, about an hour ago.)

To combat the growing animal overpopulation problem, Knox County is launching a $250,000 mobile spay/neuter clinic. The mobile lab has surgical facilities and space to handle 30 animals.

The article notes that Knox County's Young-Williams Animal Center took in nearly 17,000 animals last year. That's a staggering number, and sadly you know what happens to most of them. Spay and neuter, people, and don't buy puppy mill pets from pet stores!

It's nice that Knox County has the resources not only for a new, state of the art shelter, but also a snazzy mobile spay/neuter clinic. Blount County, unfortunately, does not see the value of this and cut off funding for animal control and contracts shelter operations out to Loudon County.

There are competing private, non-profit proposals for a new shelter, one advocating a no-kill shelter and another advocating for a larger facility that could handle all of Blount County's animal control needs (where "control" would involve euthanizing).

Given the overwhelming numbers shelters have to deal with because of irresponsible pet owners, one has to wonder if a no-kill shelter is practical. Rescue organizations are an alternative and can work with shelters to help, but they are overwhelmed. It's a sad, tough situation, especially for the animals that get caught up in the system because of cruelty and neglect.

Long-term, education on responsible pet ownership is the key. And perhaps better regulation of puppy mill sources, pet stores, and backyard breeders.