Animal Welfare Association

I was looking for an older dog that would likely have less energy than a puppy. Having owned full-bred Labradors and some mixed breeds, I was drawn to a large, 5 year old pup I first saw online. I visited the shelter, and she was brought into a small room so I could meet her. Obviously mixed, she looks like a smaller version of a chocolate lab, weighing in at 61lbs. I liked her energy and soft brown eyes. I didn't know what to expect, but I picked her up the next day. She is far exceeding my expectations! Coming from another shelter in TN, there was no known history, but I can tell she was loved. She came to me completely housebroken and knowing commands. She has been calm at a BBQ with a lot of people as well as with my almost-3-year old grandson. The staff at AWA offers great support in many ways even after adoption, and it was a very positive experience. The kennels were clean, and the dogs looked healthy and well cared for. Every person involved in the short process was very nice and friendly. My pup reminds me of my favorite dog ever that was a mixed breed dachshund that I also adopted from AWA many years ago. Please don't hesitate to adopt from the AWA where you may find your next best friend! In my experience, shelter dogs are gems!

AWA is a fantastic, well-run shelter that takes good care of its animals and has caring staff and volunteers. I have adopted several small animals from there and found the adoption process to be relatively easy. All of the animals had been seen by a vet and were in good health. They have fun events and promotions as well. I especially enjoy their summer events. And while I haven't used any of their vet services, I know they offer some low cost clinic options that can save a lot of money.

We had such a great experience adopting our silly little Worm! Everyone was incredibly kind and knowledgeable! Thank you especially to Julie for making the adoption process so easy and fun! I of course attached a pic of our little buddy to pay the cat tax!!

When I was 17, my Dad adopted a kitten from AWA for my sister & I. We kept the name she’d been given by AWA: Socks. She was my first cat. When my sis and I started our adult lives, Socks came with me. Fast forward to about 3 years ago, when I was 52. I had a cat named Cocoa who had cancer & it wasn’t treatable. The vet who diagnosed her said she was in no pain & she would have up to 31 months before the cancer would begin to affect her quality of life. During this time, I’d learned that AWA had a low-cost clinic. When she reached the point when it was time to send her over the Rainbow Bridge, I contacted AWA & asked if they could do it (I was on SSD by this point & my regular vet was very expensive). Their policy is that one of their vets will do a medical exam before agreeing to euthanasia of a furbaby they’ve never treated. They didn’t need to do much to see that it was time. I completely broke down sobbing after making the appointment on the phone. It had been 24 months since her diagnosis & I’d been living on edge the whole time, always wondering if tomorrow would be the day, so making the appointment I’d been dreading was devastating. Because I’d cried so much the day before, I was fairly calm during the appointment. Cocoa was one of those rare cats that loved being held in my arms “on her back” like she was a human baby. She also always gazed into my eyes with a loving expression, unusual because most cats stare as a sign of aggression. Not Cocoa. All the staff were wonderful. While they prepared everything, I sat holding her that way, and Cocoa & I just gazed into each other's eyes in between the many kisses she got from me. I could see the staff in my peripheral vision, looking surprised and touched by this scene. One tech said, “she’s was such a good girl!” “The bestest girl,” I said, and the tech repeated, “Yes, the bestest.” As awful as it was to let Cocoa go, those moments of holding her and looking into her eyes, and hearing the kindness in the staff’s voices, made this the only euthanasia of the nine cats I’ve had over my lifetime that has a good memory I still treasure. It was kind of a full-circle experience. AWA gave me my first kitten, Socks & as a result, I discovered being a cat mom was the life role that brought me the most joy. Socks and Cocoa, by coincidence, had very similar personalities. So they gave me Socks, and decades later, helped me say such a painful and long-dreaded goodbye to Cocoa, a cat so similar to Socks. I don’t have any digital photos of Socks; she predated the era of smartphones. But I do have pix of Cocoa. She adored her fur-brother Spot. I’m certain she’s still using him as a pillow, since he joined her over The Rainbow Bridge a couple of years ago.

I had a great experience adopting my pup, Tita (formerly Lucia), from this adoption center. Adrianna was amazing and provided me with so much helpful information throughout the process. You can tell the staff truly cares about the animals. The facility was very clean, organized, and well cared for. Tita has been such a great addition to my family, and I am so grateful for the love and care she received before coming home with me. Highly recommend this adoption center to anyone looking to adopt!