Red Fern Animal Shelter
A good dog is waiting for you...

Click Here for our Adoptable Pet List

Click Here for our Happy Tails!



“To sit with a dog on a hillside
on a glorious afternoon
is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring -
it was peace.
~Milan Kundera

Dedicated to Tiger

Tiger was one of those special dogs who defied description. If you have ever known a dog like Tiger, you know what we mean. If you haven’t, our hope is that, someday, you will be privileged to know and love one. When that time comes, you will experience what we have learned: loving one dog opens the door to loving every dog. Tiger is the reason for Red Fern Animal Shelter.


Tiger

Who We Are

Red Fern Animal Shelter is a no-kill, non-profit, 501(c)(3) shelter located on 100 acres between Martin and Dresden in Weakley County, Tennessee. We are operated entirely by volunteers, and we currently shelter about 50 dogs. (By the time I finish typing this, that number will probably change!) Our dogs receive food, clean water, exercise, Frontline, and Heartgard. They also receive the same expert medical attention that our own dogs get. The only thing our dogs need more of is one-on-one attention and love from a special person or family. But you’re reading this, so there’s hope!

Our Goals

Our goals are:
  1. To provide temporary care for surrendered, lost, abandoned, or abused animals until such time as permanent homes become available;
  2. To provide a permanent home at Red Fern for those animals deemed unsuitable for adoption;
  3. To increase public awareness of the growing problems resulting from pet overpopulation;
  4. To systematically canvass targeted communities and offer assistance toward becoming “Spay and Neuter” or “No Drop” Neighborhoods;
  5. To actively reduce pet overpopulation by promoting and funding the spaying and neutering of animals;
  6. To work with schools and communities in the development and presentation of educational programs that encourage responsible pet ownership;
  7. To cooperate with existing animal welfare organizations in accomplishing common goals;
  8. To establish and publicize a “Safe Drop Zone” for unwanted animals;
  9. To solicit and receive funds for accomplishing the above goals.

Adopting a Friend

If one of our dogs catches your attention, please contact us. You may reach us at this site through the link to our email address, or you may call (731) 332-9116 or (731) 332-0318. We work full-time, so please be prepared to leave a message. We will return your call as soon as possible. You will be asked to complete an online adoption application, after which a home visit will be made and references will be checked. We will also ask you to visit Red Fern Animal Shelter on more than one occasion so that you can spend time with the dog you are interested in adopting. If all goes well, you will be required to sign an adoption contract.

Our adoption fee for dogs is $200. If long-distance transportation is required, there is an additional minimum $150 transportation fee. Our adoption fees may seem high, but our average cost for spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, Heartgard, and Frontline is $300.00. Please do not equate a dog's value with his/her cost in dollars. We have no "cheap dogs." Our careful screening process and adoption fees are intended to protect the animals we’ve grown to love so much. You are making a commitment for the duration of the adopted pet’s life. We take our responsibilities very seriously. Our only interest is in placing our dogs with adopters who will do the same.

We love cats too! We have some beautiful cats available for adoption. The adoption fee for cats is $100, and, as with the dogs, they are spayed or neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations prior to adoption.

We strictly adhere to the Tennessee Spay Neuter Law which requires all animals adopted from shelters to be spayed or neutered.

Click here to complete our online Adoption Application

Click here to download our Adoption Contract

If you do not find an animal on our website that you would like to adopt, we urge you to adopt from a neighboring shelter operated by the Ken-Tenn Humane Society. They have many dogs and cats that are deserving of good homes. Please click here to visit the Ken-Tenn Humane Society website. We are not affiliated with Ken-Tenn.

Visit Us!

Good dogs and cats are waiting for you at Red Fern Animal Shelter, and we can't wait for you to meet them! If you are planning to visit, please call ahead of time to make sure someone will be here to assist you, as our hours can vary from day to day. When you visit, please dress to impress the dogs, not us! Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by a committee of dogs who are out of their kennels for their daily exercise. They will be saying to you, "Pick me! Pick me!" And how can you resist?

How You Can Help

There are many ways that you can help our animals. If you are interested in volunteering or fostering for Red Fern, please contact us or fill out the application below. Perhaps you have time or talents that you are willing to volunteer. We can always use an extra pair of hands!

Click here to download a Volunteer Application

If you would like to donate money for food, spay/neuter surgeries, Frontline, or Heartgard, please click on the Paypal "Donate" button below. Contribute any amount you wish! $25 buys a 50 lb. bag of dog food. $65 pays for a cat to be spayed or neutered. $100 pays for a dog to be spayed or neutered.

If you prefer to write a check, our mailing address is 1487 Miles Rd., Dresden, TN, 38225. Please make checks payable to "Red Fern Animal Shelter."

To help us purchase food and supplies for our shelter, send us an e-gift certificate for Petco by clicking on the link below. Type in Dresden, TN in the location box and select Red Fern Animal Shelter as the gift recipient.



Patented Kuranda Dog Beds We have chosen Kuranda beds for our shelter because our dogs love them. Unfortunately, we don't have enough for all of our dogs. If you would like to donate a bed, please click here.

If you shop online, we ask that you click the iGive.com link below. It will take you to almost 700 online stores that will give Red Fern a percentage of the amount you spend.

iGive.com

Red Fern is listed on the Rescue Directory at SitStay.com. Each month, rescue organizations from their directory are randomly selected to receive donations of dog supplies. You can also order dog supplies from SitStay.com and have them shipped directly to Red Fern. We would love for you to check with us to see what we need!

Finally, the most important ways that you can help are:
Tell your friends about us.
Spay and neuter your own pets.



What to Do About Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty and neglect are crimes. If you are aware of animal cruelty or neglect, immediately contact the local police or sheriff, and follow up to make sure that your concerns are taken seriously and that the situation is investigated. Please do not ignore the problem or assume that "someone else will do something about it." Even if you visit an animal shelter and observe cruelty or neglect, don't hesitate to report it. Click here for Tennessee Animal Cruelty Laws


Red Fern Animal Shelter
1487 Miles Road
Dresden, TN 38225
Phone: (731) 332-9116 or (731) 332-0318

Email: RedFernAnimalShelter@netscape.com

Click here for a list of pets at this shelter


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