In January 2022, our vouchers helped to have 16 animals altered. This includes 3 male dogs, 3 female dogs, 5 male cats and 5 female cats. February 2022, Paws and Claws issued 39 vouchers. A total of 22 animals were neutered in Feb. 3 male dogs, 4 female dogs, 6 male cats and 9 female cats can no longer reproduce. We also distributed 120 lbs of dog food to families where a need was established.
Paws and Claws has a voucher program to assist Bledsoe County residents in getting their cats/dogs neutered. Applications are available on the application page on this website. In 2021, we assisted 225 residents in getting this done. Of those 225 there were 49 male dogs, 56 female dogs, 48 male cats and 72 female cats. Thank you to all who have been able to use your voucher. Just think how many off-spring there could have been otherwise. PLEASE spay and neuter. There are too many unwanted now and not enough homes for them.
Paws and Claws...A New Direction
In 2009, in response to concerns about the number of stray animals in the Sequatchie Valley, a group of citizens organized to form a group named "The Pikeville Animal Shelter Committee". Through a school contest the name of the group became "Paws and Claws Animal Shelter" and was chartered and registered as a 501(c)3 charitable organization with the intent of establishing a brick and mortar animal shelter somewhere in the valley. The group tried for 9 years to find funding to purchase land and build a physical shelter to have a place to put these abandoned animals. Alas, after years of trying, a sustainable source of income could not be found. It takes quite a bit of money and resources to equip and staff such a facility. Therefore, the officers and members of Paws and Claws needed to change our focus and set a more realistic goal to help address our stray animal issue. In March of 2020, a new set of Bylaws were presented and approved by those members who were in attendance. We are setting a new course but we need the public's help. We need foster homes. Folks willing to take in a cat or dog for a period of time while we work to find them a forever home. Paws and Claws will supply food, limited fencing as needed, we will loan the foster family a kennel to secure the animal in the home if needed, and we will pay veterinary expenses incurred by the foster animal, if approved in advance by Paws and Claws at a participating veterinary practice. The other avenue Paws and Claws is pursuing is animal population control via an assisted Spay/Neuter program. If someone has a pet but cannot afford to have them spayed or neutered, Paws and Claws will assist that person with that expense via a voucher program we have in place with area veterinary service providers. We are trying to expand the list of service providers as we speak. For more information about our voucher program, please contact us at 423-447-4297. On line applications for becoming a foster family and/or applying for a spay/neuter voucher can be found by clicking on Apps in the tool bar above. Lastly, Paws and Claws is proud to cooperate with local animal welfare groups such as: www.Critterz.org, www.MaringaAnimalSanctuary.com, and East Tennessee Animal Alliance (ETAA), Safe Haven Puppy Sanctuary, Sequatchie Valley Low Cost Spay & Neuter among others. We are all working together to address the issues our area has with animal control and welfare. Sincerely, The Officers and Members of Paws and Claws
How we got started.....
In 2009 Debbie Smith, fearing that one of her tenants would get bit by a stray dog, took the initiative to start a petition for something to be done about all the stray dogs running loose in the Sequatchie Valley Tn. area. After getting a petition signed, Debbie started the foundation of making a difference for the safety and care of cats and dogs. Paws and Claws is the product of this gathering of people who care.
WHERE DID THAT DANG CAT GO????
MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to alleviate pet overpopulation by offsetting the cost of spay/neuter services for dogs and cats in the county of Bledsoe, TN. We also provide, whenever possible, resources necessary to support the rescue, care, and adoption of stray and unwanted dogs and cats in our County.