low cost spay/neuter clinic in Greenback where you can have the procedure done for a very nominal fee. Call MCAS at 423-442-1015 for more information on how to adopt responsibly.

Since construction of our much needed addition is under way, gift certificates from Lowes or Home Depot will help to purchase miscellaneous hardware. Last but not least we can use some more medium sized Kuranda dog beds. These can be purchased online.  Thanks to all who so freely donate time, money and skills. Your cash donations made out to MCFA are tax deductible and your shelter depends on your generosity to maintain the high standards of care that we provide.

It's the law ..... the Tennessee State Law requires that all dogs and cats have a current rabies vaccine. The law applies to all dogs over the age of 3 months and cats over the age of 6 months. It is also unlawful to permit a dog to run at large, unless the dog is engaged in legal hunting or herding.

It may be just the beginning of Summer, but MCFA volunteers are gearing up for our annual yard sale the first week in October. We are seeking donations of furniture, appliances, artwork, household items, books, etc. Kitchen and Christmas items are always a big seller. Donations will be taken through September, but please no clothing. If you have clothing to donate, please consider the Good Shepherd Center in Madisonville. Items can be dropped off at the shelter during business hours (DO NOT leave donations outside the gate when the shelter is closed). In Kahite, call Helen at 423-884-6008 or Teena at 423-884-3148. In Tellico Village call Pat at 865-458-0491 for drop off points or to arrange pick up. Your donations make this event a success every year. Thanks for continuing to help.

Animal abuse is family violence. A study published in Violence Against Women found that of 111 battered women with companion animals in shelters in South Carolina, almost half reported that their current or former male partners had threatened or abused their animals. A study of women living in Wisconsin shelters because of domestic abuse found that 80 percent of their batterers had been violent to their animals. In New Jersey, a study shows that in 88 percent of 57 families being treated for child abuse, animals in the home had been abused. Please take animal cruelty seriously and report it to your local law enforcement officials and to the animal shelter.

The Monroe County Friends of Animals (MCFA) conducts educational programs in the Monroe County schools, day care facilities and the Boys and Girls Clubs. "No Child Left Unkind" addresses how to care for your pet, how to approach and behave around strange animals and teaches respect for all living creatures. We are in need of volunteers to help expand our programs. If you are interested in helping us reach the youth of Monroe County with this important message, or if you would like to schedule a presentation for your class or children's group, please contact Educational Coordinator Jane Skelly at wayneandjane@tds.net.

The Monroe County Animal Shelter has recently been involved in a court case regarding animal cruelty. We are happy to report that the case is continuing on to the Grand Jury. Even though animal abuse is not an isolated incident, this is the first time that we have been able to prosecute and we are grateful to all involved who spoke up and stood up for the care and safety of the animal. If you have reason to believe that animal abuse has occurred, please call The Monroe County Animal Shelter at 423-442-1015.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) states that while animal abuse is an important sign of child abuse, the parent isn't always the one harming the animal. Children who abuse animals may be repeating a lesson learned at home; like their parents, they are reacting to anger or frustration with violence. Their violence is directed at the only individual in the family more vulnerable than themselves: an animal. One expert says, "Children in violent homes are characterized by ... frequently participating in pecking-order battering," in which they may maim or kill an animal. Indeed, domestic violence is the most common background for childhood cruelty to animals.

Animal abuse is family violence. The Monroe County Friends of Animals (MCFA) is available to speak to your civic organization to address the needs of the shelter and the importance of education not only in our schools, but among our adult population as well. Please contact Anja Hammersmith at Anjakham@aol.com to schedule an adult program. MCFA also conducts educational programs in the Monroe County schools, day care facilities and the Boys and Girls Clubs. "No Child Left Unkind" addresses how to care for your pet, how to approach and behave around strange animals and teaches respect for all living creatures. If you would like to schedule a presentation for your class or children's group, please contact Educational Coordinator Jane Skelly at wayneandjane@tds.net.

Shelter Director, Vicki Morgan wishes to thank all those who volunteer so freely to help with the care of the homeless animals at the shelter. This week she has dedicated the huge sign at the back entrance to Wal-Mart in Madisonville to thank those who care and act so lovingly. We do, however, still have immediate need of supplies. This week's list includes paper towels, large garbage bags and a critical need for rubber gloves, both kitchen and medical types.

Thanks to Brenda Stinson, our Rolling Rescue Coordinator, we have developed a wonderful relationship with the SPCA of Upper New York (www.spcauny.org) and they are able, willing and eager to help us adopt out as many pups and kittens as we can send them. All of our animals are quickly adopted to well-qualified families in the New York area within a very short time of their arrival. Our biggest stumbling block is the need for foster care before each run. The selected pups and kittens must be in a foster home for two weeks before they can be eligible for this life-saving opportunity. This next run is scheduled for June 18 and all puppies must be in their foster homes by June 4. The Monroe County Friends of Animals (MCFA) supplies all food and medical care during their transition. Foster families provide love and socialization and are rewarded with the knowledge that you've directly saved the life of the innocent babies in your care. Please email Brenda at bbs1381@hotmail.com or call Shelter Director Vicki Morgan at 423-442-1015 for more information.

Puppies and kittens are falling from the sky. It does seem that way - stop by the shelter and take a look at the selection we've got on hand. There are lots and lots to choose from and more arriving daily. If you have an animal or animals to surrender, please call the shelter at 423-442-1015 to make an appointment so that we will be sure to have space for them. There is NO charge for surrendering animals. We always accept donations.

We are issuing a plea for foster homes for our puppies and dogs who are eligible for the Rolling Rescue. We have the opportunity to directly save a good number of lives by sending up to 75-80 puppies and kittens to the SPCA of Upstate New York (www.spcauny.org). If you have some space, some time to play and lots of love to give, consider making a two week commitment to care for just two puppies. The shelter provides all food and medical costs. Call Shelter Director Vicki Morgan at 423-442-1015 if you can help.

Thanks to the amazing efforts of our shelter staff, volunteers and the community, we have weathered the storm of last week and are still able to care for the lost and homeless animals of Monroe County, despite the loss of the roof over the rear quarantine area. Donations to help replace the roof were so much needed and appreciated and our thanks go out to those who contributed. We are obviously even shorter on space without the use of that portion of the building, so quick repairs are imperative. If you would like to contribute, you can make a tax-deductible donation online, send a check to MCFA at PO Box 106, Vonore, TN 37885 or drop it into the donation box at the shelter, located at 170 Kefauver Lane (behind Wal-Mart) in Madisonville.

A big thank you to all those who stopped by the annual soggy roadblock in Vonore last weekend. Thanks to your generosity, MCFA volunteers collected over $1200 to put to the direct care of our animals. This is the third year in a row that it has rained on our efforts in Vonore, but as usual, Monroe Countians come through rain or shine.

We have long ago outgrown our physical space at the shelter so we are now looking for the donation of another outdoor storage shed to be used for supplies, yard equipment, etc. If you would like to purchase or contribute to the purchase of a shed, please contact Shelter Director Vicki Morgan at 423-442-1015 for details.

Shelter Director Vicki Morgan is issuing a plea for mother cats with nursing litters. Many of our kittens are dropped off before they are weaned and their chances of survival are much better if we can sneak them in with a foster Mom. If you have a litter that you would like to bring to the shelter, please bring Mama along, too. We also remind everyone that animals can only be surrendered during the time the shelter is open. Last week, we found another box left at the gate containing 2 teeny defenseless kittens. If you care enough to bring them to us, bring them to us - don't leave them at the mercy of the elements and predators

We recently were able to provide assistance for a Sweetwater resident who reported that three of his five dogs had disappeared from his property. A remaining female returned home with her leg caught in a trap. Shelter employees were able to remove the trap and provide veterinary care with the assistance of the Monroe County Friends of Animals. The trap was not marked with identification as required by law so TN Wildlife was contacted. We are seeking information on other traps in the Waymier Road area just outside of Sweetwater. The missing dogs have not been located. If you can provide any information, please call the shelter at 423-442-1015.

The April 9 Rolling Rescue was sponsored by the East Tennessee Foundation and brought 33 dogs and 20 cats to the SPCA of Upstate New York www.spcauny.org. Twenty three dogs and six kittens were adopted in the first two days. Our next run leaves on April 30 and we are hoping to send 50-65 dogs/puppies because the New York shelter is holding a 3-day adoptathon and the chances for our pups finding a forever home quickly are great. We certainly have the puppies, but we need to provide foster care for them off the shelter grounds. If you think you might be able to provide love and socialization for two or more puppies for a short time, we can provide the pups, food and any medical care. Call Vicki Morgan at the shelter 423-442-1015 for details.

Our Animal Cruelty Investigators, Doris Hoekel and Dr. Nancy McEntee were instrumental in the investigation and rescue of the now famous St. Bernards, Panda and her brother, Pete. Doris and "Doc" work tirelessly to help improve the lives of animals in Monroe County. In most cases, they work with owners to be sure they are able to provide, food, water and shelter for their pets. In some cases, an owner will agree to surrender the animal(s) to the shelter. Doris and "Doc" often visit homes in remote locations of the county where there is no cell phone service. They are hoping to acquire a 2-way radio so that they can contact the sheriff's office should they find they need backup support. This is an expensive piece of equipment, costing around $700, but it is necessary to provide safety for these gals who provide such a valuable service to our citizens. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward this purchase, you can make a check out to The Monroe County Friends of Animals (MCFA), PO Box 106, Vonore, TN 37885 or donate online. You can drop a contribution off at the shelter as well. Just be sure that your check or donation is marked "Radio Fund" so that we will be sure to apply it to that purchase.

SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program) will be distributing vouchers for a free spay or neuter procedure for your pet on Saturday, April 26 at 10 AM in Madisonville at the Monroe County Courthouse Annex, 103 College Street). Qualified families can pick up a voucher to have a dog or cat spayed or neutered FREE at the PPAWS Spay and Neuter Clinic in Greenback, the Monroe County Animal Hospital in Sweetwater, Tellico Bay Animal Hospital in Vonore or at the Sweetwater Veterinary Hospital. Watch your local papers or call Mike or Sue at 423-884-6801 for details.

Last year's (2007) April, May, June figures show that we took 1,318 animals into the shelter. Of that number, 271 were considered to be un-adoptable and were euthanized immediately. Un-adoptable animals are those that are too sick or have behavioral problems severe enough to predict that they will not be suitable human companions.

How do you suppose they got that way? Somewhere along the way from cute puppyhood to that unloved adult, no one cared for these animals and their lives were considered worthless. Shame on us. 845 dogs and cats were destroyed at our shelter alone during that quarter of 2007.

The national average is a lot worse than that but it doesn't excuse the role that we in Monroe County need to play to stop this appalling loss of life. If you have an intact animal or know of friends or neighbors who don't believe that spaying and neutering is important, please consider that our shelter employees are left with the results of such an uncaring attitude.

Day after day, they are faced with the overcrowding at the shelter and are forced to euthanize live animals to make room for the more that are coming. We make every effort to find homes for your unwanted, but there just aren't enough homes for what people are allowing to be created. Having that new litter of kittens or puppies is not cute.

It's irresponsible and costs the life of another animal who cannot find a home. Call the shelter at 423-442-1015 for spay and neuter programs in our area.

Plans for the new county shelter can only move forward when we are able to acquire the approximately 3 - 5 acres needed for the project. If you have or know someone who has land that they might be willing to donate or offer a long-term lease, please call Monroe County Friends of Animals at (423) 404-8484. MCFA is a not-for-profit, 501 (c) 3 volunteer organization, and your donation can tax deducted.

When you decide to adopt an animal, there are steps to take in preparing your home for the new arrival. Adding a pet is like adding a new family member, so be sure that the entire family understands the responsibility of pet ownership. Pets are living beings that love you unconditionally and rely upon you for all their needs. They require food, water, shelter, play time, love and medical care. A special place should be designated for it to eat, sleep and eliminate. Feed your new pet a high quality diet and portions appropriate for the animal’s size, age and activity. You will need to pet-proof your home to avoid accidents. Harmful cleansers, plants, electrical cords and breakable objects should be kept out of reach.

The Monroe County Friends of Animals (MCFA) is currently looking for someone to organize adoptathons. Many area businesses are happy to allow us to set up an information table and bring along a few animals to promote adoptions from our shelter. We are generally quite successful in finding homes for the animals that come along to the event and we often generate in-person visits to the shelter where many more adoptions take place. Adoptathons boost our adoption potential and are an important way to help out off the shelter grounds. For a detailed job description, contact Judy at the shelter or at 1catnut@bellsouth.net.

The Monroe County Friends of Animals is grateful to all those who contributed to the success of MCFA's Furry Tales Ball held last week. Thanks to volunteers, sponsors, donors and attendees, we have raised approximately $19,000 to go to animal care and education programs of MCFA. Your support is crucial to the success of the animal shelter, Rolling Rescue and educational programs in the schools and Boys and Girls Clubs. We thank you for making this primary fund-raiser such an achievement.

We've received many donations of Pedigree Dog food this month and we thank those who have so generously contributed. If you'd like to donate dog and puppy food, the Pedigree program will send a free bag of food for every one purchased. You can call 1-800-810-2975 or visit www.dogsrulegear.com  to make a tax free purchase.  The Pedigree program does not cover cat and kitten food, so we appreciate any donations you might make for our felines. We are also in need of dust free cat litter.

We are issuing a plea for foster homes for our puppies and dogs who are eligible for the Rolling Rescue. We have the opportunity to directly save a good number of lives by sending up to 75-80 puppies and kittens to the SPCA of Upstate New York (www.spcauny.org). If you have some space, some time to play and lots of love to give, consider making a two week commitment to care for just two puppies. The shelter provides all food and medical costs. Call Shelter Director Vicki Morgan at 423-442-1015 if you can help.

Last week's Rolling Rescue was sponsored by the East Tennessee Foundation and sent 70 dogs and cats to our sister shelter, the SPCA of Upstate New York (www.spcauny.org).  When they arrive in New York after the 16 hour journey from Tennessee, they are carefully checked by the NY shelter staff and given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Thirty of our precious cargo from this run were adopted the first day they were made available. All of the dogs from February's Rolling Rescue, sponsored by Ravonda Raper are now living in their new forever homes. This is an amazing mission that we are able to continue each month thanks to the generosity of our citizens and businesses. If you would like to sponsor a Rolling Rescue or foster puppies for the run, please contact Shelter Director Vicki Morgan at 423-442-1015 for information. Your support will directly save the lives of a great number of the innocent homeless and hopeless animals abandoned in our County. You can see the scrolling banner listing the names of previous sponsors near the top of our web site pages.  Your name could be the next to appear.

Please observe that the shelter is closed when the signs are up at the driveway.  The shelter is located on private property and it is against the law to be there after hours and on days when the shelter is not open to the public. After hours drop off of strays is not allowed. The grounds are under surveillance and violations will be taken seriously.

When transporting your dog in the back of an open pickup truck on the highway it is important that the animal be confined in a safe manner. The use of a harness rather than a buckle or choke collar can save them from harm should you stop short or be involved in an accident. The dog's harness must be attached to the vehicle so that there is no chance of being thrown or falling from the truck bed.  The line needs to be just short enough for the dog to be able to lie down. If you give too much line, the dog can jump or fall from the vehicle without your knowledge. We have recently experienced a case where the dog had fallen from the truck and was dragged along the highway, causing his painful death. There's no substitute for common sense.

The Monroe County Animal Shelter is dedicated to fighting animal cruelty in our community and has recently accepted the help of three animal cruelty investigators. If you witness animal cruelty or neglect, please call the shelter at 442-1015 to file a report. You can do so anonymously. You need not leave your name; just give us what the abuse is and where to find the animal. These trained officers will check out the situation to see if the owner needs help in providing basic care for the animal; such as, a dog house or access to food and water. Although our primary focus is helping animals in need, we try to assist the public in providing a helping hand through education or rescuing an unwanted pet.

The Monroe County Animal Shelter and the thousands of animals that will be coming through the shelter in future years desperately need your help. Despite our best efforts to maintain the current shelter, we have outgrown the facility and need to look ahead to constructing a new building for the county. Given the present and future needs of Monroe County, we must give serious time and effort to planning and raising funds for the new shelter. We received our first challenge grant from an anonymous donor for up to $25,000 in matching funds to start the building fund. The Monroe County Friends of Animals will accept these tax-deductible donations from donors who want to double their contribution! If you would like to contribute, please make checks to “MCFA Building Fund".

DON'T GET A RAT! With the popularity of the recent movie Ratatouille, children have been asking parents to buy them a rat for a pet. BAD IDEA ........ once the rat looses it's charm for the child, they are often released into the wild to fend for themselves. Purchased rats are bred in captivity and are not equipped with the skills or stamina to survive on their own, so they are sent to a sure death. The Monroe County Animal Shelter houses only dogs and cats, so there is no "rat sanctuary" to care for them. When you teach children that it's acceptable to throw away unwanted animals like wastepaper, you're traveling down a slippery slope, advocating a throwaway society and creating a heartless new generation lacking in compassion.

The October 31 Rolling Rescue, sponsored by Sharon Cherry, Karen Foreman and MCFA sent 52 dogs and 12 kittens to the SPCA of Upper New York. All 53 puppies sent on the October 17 run have been adopted and more than half of the October 31 mission have found their new homes in the first week. This is an excellent, well-run program and we thank our Coordinator Brenda Stinson, our new Foster Coordinator, Dawn Nelson and the wonderful volunteers who foster and help prepare our animals for transport for saving so many lives

Our sincere thanks to G & S Sandblasting of Madisonville for their donation of a headstone for Smokey the Cat, who lived at the shelter for almost 2 years before being adopted into a loving home where she passed away last month just before reaching her 22nd birthday. Smokey is buried in the flower garden on the shelter grounds and will be always remembered for her stubborn willingness to live life on her terms.  G & S Sandblasting is owned and operated by Hilda, Edwards and Debbie Taylor and can be reached at 423-261-4009. Any other donations made in Smokey's honor will be used to send cats to forever homes on our Rolling Rescue. If you would like to make a contribution, you can stop by the shelter, mail a donation to MCFA at PO Box 106, Vonore, TN 37885 or you can donate online.

On October 17, we sent 63 animals on the Tellico Village Kahite Womens Organization Rolling Rescue to New York. As of press time, 49 of those animals had already found their forever homes with those remaining sure to be adopted within the week. The latest Rolling Rescue left the shelter on Wednesday, October 31 and was sponsored by Sharon Cherry, Karen Foreman and MCFA. We invite anyone to participate in the transport cost or in fostering animals for the shelter so that we can continue to provide this opportunity for so many of our Monroe County Animals. We continue to send animals to other various out of area rescue groups, but we have established an excellent special working relationship with the SPCA of Upper New York and continue to send 50-80 animals per month to their facility where they are quickly re-homed to qualified households. The spay and neuter efforts of the last 10-15 years in other areas of the country have accomplished what we hope to achieve in Monroe County. People are not allowing their pets to indeterminately breed and do not dump unwanted litters along the roadways allowing the survivors to freely breed and contribute to the unwanted, unhomed population. As a result, those facilities are in need of puppies and quality adult animals to briefly house in their shelters for loving families to adopt. Spay and neuter - it's the only way to solve the problem.

As part of an aggressive campaign to stamp out dogfighting in America, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is offering $5,000 to those who provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of any person involved in illegal animal fighting. Contact The HSUS at 202-452-1100 for reward details. A three-year study released by the Chicago Police Department shows that 65% of the people arrested for animal abuse crimes, including dogfighting, were also arrested for violent crimes against people. More than 250,000 dogs are placed in dogfighting pits each year. A good percentage come from backyard breeders who give their puppies away in retail store parking lots and flea markets. These innocent pups are sometimes used for bait in training fighting dogs. Do you know where your dog's puppies are?

Once again this week (week of 10-19-07), a van has left the shelter carrying a cargo of precious animal lives heading for a new future. We thank the Tellico Village Kahite Women's Organization for their sponsorship of this month's Rolling Rescue which sends adoptable dogs and cats to the SPCA of Upper New York where they are rapidly adopted to qualified lifetime homes.

These animals need to be housed out of the shelter for two weeks before the monthly run. This is an opportune way for you to give your child a chance to demonstrate that they really could take care of the pet they've been asking for. Each foster family agrees to take two puppies for a two week period to love and teach how wonderful life can be in a human family. All food and any medical care (vaccines, testing, etc.) is provided by MCFA. At the end of the two week period, the pups are returned to the shelter for their air-conditioned trip to New York. Most of our animals are adopted within the first few days (some are chosen from our web site before they even leave Monroe County). Usually, by the end of the second week, ALL our animals have been safely placed in their forever homes. Dogs from the Monroe County Animal Shelter are in big demand at the MSPCA of Upper New York, due mostly to the loving care they've experience in their foster homes. If you think you'd like help your child experience the responsibility of caring for a pet, or if you would love to have another animal but just can't take on that commitment right now, perhaps being a foster is just the solution for you. Please call Shelter Director, Vicki Morgan at 423-442-1015 for more details.

Our Rolling Rescue sends between 40-80 animals monthly from Monroe County to a limited intake shelter in New York State where our animals are quickly adopted to qualified homes. The cost is $600 per run and is funded solely by MCFA and other generous sponsors. If you would like to sponsor a run or contribute to the cost, this is an amazing opportunity to directly save the lives of many homeless pets. Business owners might consider this project as an advertising opportunity as well as a humanitarian effort. Call Shelter Director Vicki Morgan at 423-442-1015 for more information.

We would like once again to thank William Wells of Wells & Associates for the outstanding services he provides to Monroe County. He created and maintains the Monroe County Friends of Animals (MCFA) web site where you can locate our adoptable animals and latest news from the shelter, download and print a shelter needs list or make a Kuranda dog bed donation. Thanks to Bill, we have the capability to obtain or renew memberships and make monetary donations on line. His services are a valuable contribution to the success of the Monroe County Animal Shelter and MCFA. If you haven't visited the web site lately, stop by and take a look. It's impressive!

We have renovated a large electronic sign that had previously been donated to the Animal Shelter. It is one that we can update daily with the shelter needs list, pet of the week and other information. We are looking for visible locations for display and are hoping that local businesses would allow the sign for short periods. It will be a great tool for the animal shelter and an eye-catcher for your business as well. Please call the shelter at 423-44-1015 for more information.

Rolling Rescue Coordinator Brenda Stinson reports that as of last week, 48 of the 57 animals that we sent to the SPCA of Upper New York on the MCFA/Foreman Rolling Rescue of September 5 have already found permanent, loving homes. The remainder are expected to be adopted over the weekend as the no-kill shelter participates in active weekend adoptathons. Our next run to the New York shelter is scheduled for September 26. We are grateful to John Woodrup of Loudon County for sponsoring this run and to all those who are currently fostering and socializing animals so that they will be eligible to participate. We are limited only by money and (wo)man power in saving the lives of over 80 animals a month. Call Shelter Director Vicki Morgan to find out how you can help. You can have a direct effect of the life of a homeless dog or cat.

Thank you to MCFA and Karen Foreman for sponsoring the September 5 Rolling Rescue to the SPCA of Upstate New York. Through their generosity, we were able to send 51 dogs and 6 kittens to this outstanding no-kill facility. They left Monroe County on Wednesday and by Saturday, 28 of the 51 dogs and 3 of the 6 kittens already had new forever homes! The remainder will be settled with their new families shortly. Each run costs approximately $600 and is paid for entirely by donation. If you would like to contribute directly to the saving of many lives, please consider a run sponsorship. Call the shelter at 423-442-1015.

We are happy to report another successful Rolling Rescue. Thanks to Barbara Eastbourne for sponsoring the run for August and to all the volunteers who fostered and to those came to the shelter to help bathe, collar puppies and help line the travel crates with paper. Rolling Rescue Coordinator Brenda Stinson reports that this was one of the smoothest operations we have ever had. Twenty-seven dogs traveled to New York and 17 were adopted in just two days' time! Generally all of our exiles are happily living in their new homes within two weeks of leaving Tennessee. Happy news, but isn't it a shame that we have such an overpopulation of homeless dogs and cats that we have to send them to Yankee-land to find homes. What's the solution? Take a guess - spay and neuter so that we stop mindlessly producing helpless living creatures who have no one to care for them. This a problem that humans can solve. Call the shelter for low or no cost spay and neuter opportunities.

BEWARE of anyone coming to your neighborhood soliciting donations door-to-door. MCFA and the Shelter NEVER solicit donations door-to-door. If someone asks for a donation for the humane society, ask for identification, get the license plate number and call the police. This is NOT a collection for your Monroe County Animal Shelter!