We are trying to develop a comprehensive dog walking volunteer force. The more time the dogs can spend in the company of people, expelling their pent up energy, and learning basic manners, the better their chances for a successful adoption! At this point, we have three dedicated dog walkers and the dogs are loving all of the attention!. Please let us know if you are interested in coming by on a regular schedule of your choosing to start walking/exercising/teaching dogs.
If you are physically unable to walk dogs or prefer to work We could always use volunteers to come walk the dogs, bathe and brush the dogs, greet visitors, take digital photos so we can add them to PetFinder, all sorts of things. If you have an interest, please stop in and visit.
When we have puppies, we need volunteers to help socialize young puppies by holding them on their backs to ward off potential dominance issues.
Emergency Preparedness
After the 2012 flooding in Carter County, we have realized the need for a large-scale, quick evacuation plan for the shelter should such an event occur in the future. We are looking for volunteers who could be called in just such an event. It is important that you have reliable, safe transportation such as a truck or other high-clearance vehicle. You will also be asked to maintain at least one large size dog crate on hand to contain each dog you are willing to temporarily house. Please call or email if you would like to be considered for this project. More information will be provided as plans evolve.
Website Duplicates and No-Pics
We are installing a new animal management software that uploads animals automatically to Petfinder and other sites. Some are still entered by hand so please excuse any duplicates you may find. This is also why some will be added to Petfinder without a picture. Volunteers take the pictures as often as they can and then they get uploaded but in an effort to spread the word about as many pets as possible, some will be listed without a photo first. If you have questions about any animal listed, please call or email and we will try to get you a picture as quickly as our workload will allow. Thank you for your patience during this transition time!
Our Facility and Hours
We are the Elizabethton Carter County Animal Shelter. We are located at 253 Sycamore Shoals Rd, Elizabethton, Tennessee.
From Broad Street, turn North on North Lynn Ave/US19E/Hwy37 and travel 0.6m. Turn Left on Watauga Highway 400S and travel 0.9m. Turn Left on Sycamore Shoals Road and travel 0.7m. The ECCAS is on the left.
The shelter is open Monday thru Friday from 12-4pm and on Saturday from 11a-2p. We are closed Sunday.
Surrendering Your Pet
There is no charge to bring in your pet but there are not always cages available. Our facility only has 25 dog kennels and 30 cat cages and we are usually at capacity. Please call ahead to check availability if you need to bring in your own animal. Due to space constraints, we do euthanize.
Looking for Your Lost Dog or Cat
Please contact our shelter and other local shelters as soon as you lose your pet. Animals without tags (and remember your pet's tags can come off!) are only held for 3 days before it is available for adoption or euthanasia. All adoptions are final so you will not be able to reclaim a pet once it has been adopted.
Animal Adoption
The price will range from $15 to $70 depending on the animal adopted. This fee covers the adoption fee and the spay/neuter charge (if needed) at several area clinics.
We do reserve the right to transport any adopted animal to the vet prior to going home.
If you are an Elizabethton resident, there is a $3 animal license fee.
Most adoptions are on a first come, first served basis. .
Ongoing Needs
Animal Supplies
Collars/harnesses
Dog shirts/coats (If you are handy at sewing (and it only requires about 4 straight lines!), we have two pattern sizes to make great dog shirts to keep our outside dogs more comfortable.)
Leashes
Crates and Carriers
Flea medications
Stainless Steel Dog/Cat Dishes
Kitty Litter
Litter pans (We are working on streamlining our cat room both for efficiency and kitty comfort. We would like to get the two standard sizes of litter boxes that are common in Wal-Mart and other discount stores. They must be stackable with our current inventory when not in use to save space. One volunteer has already donated 25 small pans. Our goal is 30 small pans and 20 large pans.)
Stackable milk crates (These make great jungle gyms for kitten litters.)
Rawhides
Blankets (We need ones similar to baby receiving blankets so they can easily fit into the cat beds without too much bulk. We can use the small fleece throws for the small dogs, and large blankets of any type with the large dogs. We can't use pillows or other items filled with stuffing or feathers due to safety and plumbing concerns.)
Toys
Treats
Peanut butter (Please give us the empty but unwashed containers. The dogs love to lick out the leftover PB!)
Dry food
We are trying to keep the mice out of the dry food by storing it in airtight and rodent-proof barrels.
Please call first if you were thinking of donating dry food to make sure there is room in the barrels.
Cleaning Supplies
General cleaning solutions (Windex, Lysol, Pinesol, etc)
We have broken ground and are expecting to move in this Fall. There will probably be an immediate extention project started so you can still donate for that purpose.
Donations can be made to the Elizabethton-Carter County Animal Shelter Building Committee Fund, c/o Carter County Bank, P.O. Box 1990, Elizabethton, TN 37643.
Check out the Committee's website www.newshelterforcartercounty.com.
Perla Beds
Many of you may have noticed the 5 new blue beds in our "puppy room". These beds are less than $50 and so far have proven to be "dog-proof". They are a good size for most dogs to curl up in and it keeps their bedding neatly contained. If you would like to add more of the beds to any of the remaining 25 kennels, please contact the shelter for the ordering information.
Kuranda Bed Program
Our dogs love to sleep on Kuranda Dog beds but we don't have enough for everyone. The ones that work best for our kennels are the 3x2 PVC and the 4x5 chew-proof vinyl beds. If you would like to donate a bed at a special wholesale price for another dog to sleep in comfort, please click here and they will ship it right to the shelter!
Guardian Angel Program
If you can't adopt right now, you can sponsor a pet by paying the $35 spay/neuter fee for that animal. This would make it easier to find a home for it and help prevent more unwanted pets.
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Program
E. TN Spay & Neuter transports animals to a regional low-cost spay-neuter clinic for owners who can't make the trip. Please contact them for more info on low-cost spay-neuter surgeries: 423-289-5548 or www.etnspay-neuter.org.
Carter County Humane Society
Carter County Humane Society supports our shelter, so please support them!
Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month, 7 pm, at the Doe River Baptist Church on Rt. 19E in Elizabethton (next to Elizabethton Lumber.)
They also offer spay-neuter assistance for low-income families. Contact them at 423-547-3031.
Elizabethton Carter County Animal Shelter Physical: 253 Sycamore Shoals Rd, Elizabethton, TN 37643
Mailing: 136 S. Sycamore St, Elizabethton, TN 37643
423-547-6359
animalshelter@cartercountytn.gov
