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Hours of Operation
Tuesday through Saturday
1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
We are a NO-KILL Rescue
Individual
Corporate
Email: contact@smhumane.org
Phone: (423) 532-8475
Address: 420 Humane Road
Newport, TN 37821
EIN: 58-2025936
Smoky Mountain Society a dba of
Friends of the Animal Shelter
Wags to Wiggles
Our Thrift Store
Here at the Smoky Mountain Humane Society we are very excited to have a Thrift Store, run entirely by amazing volunteers! We have hundreds of wonderful donated items, so there truly is something for everyone. The best part! All proceeds go to our Shelter to help us help the animals! By stopping and shopping, you help an animal in need. Just imagine what we can achieve together!
Please stop by and see us real soon!
Our new open hours will be:
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
106 Wildwood Way
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 325-8303
Check us out on Facebook!
Our Story
A Bit of Background
The first animal shelter in Cocke County, Tennessee was started in 1978, by Lynn Bright and Cynthia Woods at the Newport Fairgrounds. The shelter was run entirely by volunteers and donations. In the early 1980’s, the shelter was flooded, and the facility was wiped out. Thankfully, all the animals were saved and by 1984, the City of Newport allocated a facility to be used as the animal shelter for Cocke County. Living conditions for the animals was extremely poor, they did not have adequate space for their proper care.
In the early 1990’s, a small group of dedicated individuals were worried about the conditions of these homeless, abandoned animals in the county. This support group was started by Dr. Carol Hood and was named, “The Friends of the Animal Shelter”. The purpose was to raise money for supplies and to give physical help as volunteers. As this wonderful group of volunteers grew, they also became determined to somehow afford to build a proper animal shelter, knowing that they would not receive the necessary funds from the government. They worked tirelessly to obtain donations and thankfully, two acres of land was generously donated for the shelter to be built on in its current location. After several years of writing grants, numerous fundraisers and generous donations, the group had enough money to start building.
The Friends of the Animal Shelter, "Friends" incorporated in 1993 and the shelter doors opened on May 6, 2000. The shelter's contract with Cocke County was not renewed and was terminated on July 31, 2022.
On August 1, 2022, "Friends" rebranded and began doing business as the Smoky Mountain Humane Society (SMHS). Their staff, volunteers and it's all volunteer board of directors has one mission, to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home the injured, unwanted and abandoned animals of Cocke County. Without any financial support from the county, SMHS continues to help hundreds of animals a year with the support from charitable donations from individuals and our business community.
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see”
Mark Twain
Make a Difference through Fostering
Help provide a safe space for pets to begin their new happy lives.
Foster care volunteers provide temporary care for kittens, puppies, dogs, and cats. Our foster families save pets who are too young to be adopted yet, are elderly, recovering from surgery, scared or depressed. Fostering is a selfless, compassionate and generous commitment and we recognize that. As foster parents to the cats and dogs of our facility, you provide the love and stability they need. We thank you for that!
Some animals may only need a home for several days, while others may need several months of care. By offering your time, energy, and home to an animal in need, you prepare an animal for adoption into a permanent home and prevent overcrowding in our rescue. We are particularly in need of foster homes to help feed orphaned kittens. This is a challenging but very rewarding job, and spring brings many orphaned kittens to the rescue.
Simple Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent
Complete the Foster Care Application and be on your way to changing a life!
Save A Life
When you foster a pet, we have room to bring another pet to our no-kill shelter. You’re saving two lives!
Free Food and Medical
We provide you with all the food and supplies you need. We take care of all their medical needs as well.
Perfectly Paired Pets
After you fill out your foster application, our shelter staff and volunteers work with you to find the right pets for your home.
Why Foster an Animal?
Fostering allows us to save even more lives by allowing us the space to rescue another animal. The more people willing to become fosters, the more animal lives we can save every day!
Fostering a dog or cat is a fun and rewarding experience that the whole family can participate in and receive unconditional love in return.
We cover the cost of all the medical needs, food, bowls, litter boxes, cages etc. while you are fostering, so there is no cost to the foster home.
You are keeping the animal in a safe, quiet environment while they get all of their booster vaccines so they won’t get sick.
Become a Cat/Kitten or Dog/Puppy
Foster Parent
Our shelter will contact you as soon as we process the application to discuss what type of foster animal may work well in your family.
Once the animal arrives, we will notify you when you should arrive at the shelter to pick up the animal and we will give you everything you need to take them home that day!
Love and care for your foster animal and provide the shelter with pictures, progress reports and personality descriptions, so we can match your foster with the best loving forever home!
If fostering a kitten or puppy, they will need to come back to the shelter every 15 days for booster vaccines and go to our veterinary clinic for their spay/neutering on a specified day & time.
If fostering an adult dog or cat, you would need to be able to bring them back to the shelter to meet potential adopters.
Return your foster to the shelter to find their permanent, loving home through adoption.
Come Volunteer with Us
Join the Team
Here at Smoky Mountain Humane Society we are looking for pawsitive, hardworking, honest individuals that not only really love animals, but want to be part of a team working toward making this rescue better than it's ever been! If that sounds like you and you want to volunteer and make a difference, please apply below!
The Smoky Mountain Humane Society is extremely fortunate to have wonderful volunteers that go the extra mile to help us achieve our goals. They have generously offered an RV camping sanctuary for you to reserve on more than an acre of land with a PRIVATE site, full hookup and WIFI. This RV site is in the breathtaking Great Smoky Mountains and is sure to please! The best part...beside the fact that you're going to have a wonderful vacation? All proceeds benefit our Shelter! So if you love saving animals as much as we do, make your reservation today! We're "pawsitive" you won't regret it!
Where Camping and Saving Animals Go Hand in Paw!
Easy entrance into your private campsite!
Your relaxing vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains awaits you!
Ready to make your reservation today or need more information? Email camping4paws@cerno.us
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
Anatole France
Helpful Information
Information on our Low Cost Programs
How do I sign my pet up for the low cost spay/neuter you offer or for vaccinations?
Appointments can be made by coming to the shelter during our open hours and filling out a medical form for your pet(s). Payment is due upon signing up for the services you choose. Your payment will reserve your spot for the available clinic date you choose. In most cases, you will need to bring your pet to the clinic yourself, in special circumstances transport can occasionally be arranged for an extra fee.
Low cost spay/neuter and who can sign up?
ABSOLUTELY ANYONE WITH AN ANIMAL! (Yes that means you reading this!)
Spay & Neuter is truly the key to the overpopulation issues in our community, let alone the entire WORLD.
Please do your part and be a responsible pet owner, Spay & Neuter truly does SAVE lives.
FOR PRICING & SCHEDULING PLEASE GIVE US A CALL AT 423-532-8475
*Please note: Payment is required during time of scheduling to secure a date*
How much are vaccinations?
Vaccinations:
*** -Rabies: $10.00-$12.00 ***
-FVRCP: $12.00
-DHPP: $12.00
-Bordetella: $12.00
*** Rabies: only on scheduled days, must be done by a veterinarian***
Do you offer additional services?
Yes! You can also come in to schedule an appointment for the following services:
-Heartworm testing
-Heartworm medication
-Flea medication
-Ear cleaning
-Nail trim
- Combo FELV/FIV testing
-Microchips
-Dewormer
Our Mission Statement
The Mission of Friends of the Animal Shelter is to provide comfort, care and shelter to lost, homeless and unwanted animals, to coordinate spay/neuter and other medical services for companion animals, to provide programs and education to reduce overpopulation of animals and to find quality homes for homeless and neglected companion animals.
Our Leadership
Volunteer Board of Directors
Alison Chiaradio
President
Sara Kenney
Vice President
Denise Kennedy
Shelley Malin
Treasurer
Shirley Mandler
Secretary
Jan Powarzynski
Valued Board Members