Young-Williams Animal Center
Until the end of June, the adoption fee for adult dogs and cats has been reduced to $75! And the adoption fee for dogs and cats 7 years or older has been reduced to only $50!
Please visit our web site at Young-Williams Animal Center Upcoming Events for a complete listing of upcoming Center events.
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We are the city of Knoxville and Knox County's public animal shelter. The Animal Center opened and began accepting animals on January 1, 2001. We are an open-admission, full-service shelter that accepts animals from Knoxville city and Knox County animal control officers and strays and owner turn-ins from the public. NO ANIMAL IS TURNED AWAY.
The Young-Williams Animal Center is a 22,000 square foot facility that has the capacity to house approximately 450 animals and represents a new direction in animal sheltering that emphasizes community involvement, education, and spay and neuter programs. It houses all animal functions such as kenneling, administration and education in one location. In addition, it includes cat colonies, "real-life" rooms for dogs, fenced dog yards, space for exotics and small and large farm animals, and a community room.
The Young-Williams Animal Center was built with both public and private monies. Knox County and the City of Knoxville each contributed $1.5 million towards the construction of the facility. The Animal Board has raised $700,000 from foundations and private individuals as part of the $3.7 million project.
The Animal Center is governed by a board of directors under a cooperative agreement between the city of Knoxville and Knox County. We focus on adoptions, educational outreach, and spay/neuter promotion. We have 40 employees, including two full-time staff veterinarians and two full-time veterinary technicians. In 2001, the Animal Center took in almost 13,000 animals. In 2002, the Center took in over 12,000 animals. In 2003, the Center took in almost 14,000 animals. We took in over 16,000 animals in 2004, almost 17,000 in 2005, and slightly over 17,000 animals each year since 2006.
We are very proud to make available to the public engraved bricks, installed in the "Walkway of Life" leading into the new shelter, in order to raise funds to care for the homeless animals in our car. Please visit our web site at Young-Williams Animal Center Walkway of Life for information and details on how to purchase a brick in honor or memory of a pet or person.
Please visit our web site at Young-Williams Animal Center for EVEN MORE pictures and descriptions of adoptable animals, information on our adoption process and an adoption application, pet behavior advice, pictures of our facility and our staff, and links to breed rescue groups and other animal-related organizations in East Tennessee and surrounding areas.
The regular fee to adopt a pet from the Young - Williams Animal Center ranges from $75 to $150, depending on the animal's age, how long he or she has been at our shelter, etc. If you adopt two pets of the same type (dog, puppy, cat, kitten) from the Center within 30 days, the second animal is $30 less and the third animal is $40 less. "Best Buddies", pets who must be adopted together, are adopted for the regular adoption fee of one of the pets plus $25. Non-traditional pets (such as rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.) are available at various adoption fees. Please call the Center at 865-215-6599 for more information about our adoption fees.
The adoption fee includes a spay or neuter, shots (except for rabies vaccine, which the adopter must get at his or her own vet), a heartworm test for dogs and a feline leukemia test for cats, check and treatment for intestinal parasites, a microchip, and an exam by our Animal Center veterinarian.
All animals are spayed or neutered by our staff veterinarians PRIOR to leaving the Animal Center. There are NO exceptions.
The Animal Center accepts cash, checks, credit cards, and money orders for adoption fees. We also accept PayPal for online donations (see PayPal link below).
PLEASE NOTE: Out-of-state/out-of-area adoptions are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact a kennel manager or our rescue coordinator at 865-215-6599 if you are outside of our area and are interested in adopting a pet. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SHIP OR ARRANGE TRANSPORT FOR ADOPTED PETS.
The Animal Center welcomes monetary donations for the care and comfort of the animals as well as donated items for use in the shelter. If you would like more information about a donation or receiving tax credit, please visit our web site at Young-Williams Animal Center. You can make a donation with your credit card over the phone (865-215-6599), with your credit card at our Center, or with your credit card by clicking on the following button.
The Animal Center is located at 3201 Division Street, Knoxville, TN 37919, right off Sutherland Avenue (where Division Street meets Sutherland Avenue), at the entrance to John Tarleton Park. The phone number there is 865-215-6599.
REGULAR HOURS: Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For addition assistance with directions: 865-215-6599
Driving east on Interstate 40: Take the University Avenue/Middlebrook Pike exit (386-A). At the bottom of the exit ramp, go straight through the stop sign. Go straight through the traffic light (crossing Middlebrook Pike.) You are on Sutherland Ave. Go straight through the traffic light at Concord St. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving west on Interstate 40: Take the Alcoa Highway exit (386). Take the Sutherland Avenue exit immediately after exiting the interstate. At the first intersection, turn left on Sutherland Avenue. Cross over Middlebrook Pike, cross over Concord St. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). The Animal Center is on the left near the entrance to John Tarleton Park. There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving east on Kingston Pike: Take Kingston Pike through the Sequoyah area. At the intersection of Kingston Pike and Neyland Drive/Concord Street, turn left onto Concord Street. At the traffic light, turn left on Sutherland Avenue. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). The Animal Center is on the left near the entrance to John Tarleton Park. There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving west on Cumberland Avenue/Kingston Pike: Take Cumberland Avenue through the UT Campus area (as you pass Volunteer Boulevard, Cumberland Avenue becomes Kingston Pike.). At the intersection of Kingston Pike and Neyland Drive/Concord Street, turn right onto Concord Street. At the traffic light, turn left on Sutherland Avenue. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). The Animal Center is on the left near the entrance to John Tarleton Park. There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving south on Interstate 75: From Interstate 75 south, take Interstate 275 south to Interstate 40 west. Take the Alcoa Highway exit (386-B). Take the Sutherland Avenue exit immediately after exiting the interstate. At the first intersection, turn left on Sutherland Avenue. Cross over Middlebrook Pike, cross over Concord St. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). The Animal Center is on the left near the entrance to John Tarleton Park. There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving south on Clinton Highway: Take Interstate 275 south to Interstate 40 west. Take the Alcoa Highway exit (386-B). Take the Sutherland Avenue exit immediately after exiting the interstate. At the first intersection, turn left on Sutherland Avenue. Cross over Middlebrook Pike, cross over Concord St. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). The Animal Center is on the left near the entrance to John Tarleton Park. There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving from Fountain City: Go south on Broadway and take Interstate 640 west. Next take Interstate 275 south to Interstate 40 west. Take the Alcoa Highway exit (386-B). Take the Sutherland Avenue exit immediately after exiting the interstate. At the first intersection, turn left on Sutherland Avenue. Cross over Middlebrook Pike, cross over Concord St. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). The Animal Center is on the left near the entrance to John Tarleton Park. There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving east on Middlebrook Pike: At the intersection with Sutherland Avenue, go right. Go straight through the traffic light at Concord St. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving west on University Avenue: At the intersection with Sutherland Avenue, go left. Go straight through the traffic light at Concord St. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving north on Chapman Highway (411): Drive over the Henley Street Bridge. Go left at the second light, Cumberland Avenue. Take Cumberland Avenue through the UT Campus area (as you pass Volunteer Boulevard, Cumberland Avenue becomes Kingston Pike.). At the intersection of Kingston Pike and Neyland Drive/Concord Street, turn right onto Concord Street. At the traffic light, turn left on Sutherland Avenue. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). The Animal Center is on the left near the entrance to John Tarleton Park. There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Driving north on Alcoa Highway (129): Cross the river and take the Kingston Pike exit. Go left at the bottom of exit onto Kingston Pike. At the intersection of Kingston Pike and Neyland Drive/Concord Street, turn right onto Concord Street. At the traffic light, turn left on Sutherland Avenue. After about 1/4 mile, turn right into John Tarleton Park (just before Division St.). The Animal Center is on the left near the entrance to John Tarleton Park. There is a large, green parks and recreation sign at the park’s entrance. The Animal Center is on the left as you enter John Tarleton Park.
Pet of the Week, WATE-TV. Every Sunday morning Bob Becker, meteorologist at Channel 6, WATE-TV, features a "Pet of the Week" from the Young - Williams Animal Center.
Pet of the Week, WVLT-TV. The first Thursday of each month on the noon news and every Friday at 4:00 p.m., Channel 8, WVLT-TV, features a "Pet of the Week" from the Young - Williams Animal Center or a visit from our executive director.
Puppy Picks, WBIR-TV. Every Thursday between 4:00 and 5:00 pm on "Live at 5 at 4", join the sports team at WBIR-TV, Channel 10, for "Puppy Picks". Each week, an adorable adoptable puppy from the Young - Williams Animal Center "picks", by choosing a bowl of food, the winner of an upcoming sporting event.
Thanks to our local media for being such good friends to the homeless animals in Knoxville and Knox County!
Please note that a posted pet may no longer be available for adoption at the time you are viewing our web page. Because time is sometimes of the essence, PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL US to see if a posted pet is still available for adoption. Instead, PLEASE CALL the Animal Center at 865-215-6599 or better yet, come by to make sure an animal is still available. We do our very best to maintain a current list.
There are more pets available for adoption at the Animal Center than are pictured on our web site at Young-Williams Animal Center. Please come visit the Animal Center to see all the wonderful animals we have available for adoption!
We are a very rescue-friendly shelter and we work with about 140 rescue organizations locally, regionally, and nationally. We call them our Pet Placement Partners! Please send an email to our rescue coordinator, Karen Lively, if you would like a copy of our Rescue Group Guidelines and to request an application to rescue from the Animal Center. (Please note: We are not able to arrange transport of rescue animals, but we do gladly work with approved rescues out of our area.)
