Young-Williams Animal Center is joining in the national celebration of Be Kind to Animals Week May 3-9. Celebrated since 1915, the week commemorates the role pets play in our lives and encourages the humane treatment of animals. To celebrate the event, Young-Williams will reduce the adoption fee for adult dogs and cats to $75 from May 3-10. 

"While the American Humane Association's Be Kind to Animals Week is celebrated just once a year," said Young-Williams Animal Center Executive Director Tim Adams, "we encourage people to be kind to animals every day." 
 
There are millions of adoptable animals in shelters across the country. Young-Williams has new arrivals every day, and the numbers at this time of year are especially high. Giving one of these pets a new home through adoption is a great way to show kindness to these animals.

In addition to adoption, there are other ways to be kind to animals:

Spay or neuter your pet. Avoiding unplanned births is the easiest way to reduce the number of unwanted animals. Young-Williams has information on low-cost options for sterilization surgery and even offers a free option through the Spay Shuttle program. Donate to your local shelter. Young-Williams, the official shelter for Knox County and the city of Knoxville, is currently collecting donations of pet food, towels, blankets, pet toys and peanut butter at local Kroger locations. And, of course, financial donations are always appreciated. These contributions go directly toward helping the homeless pets in our area. Take care of your pet. Pets need your help to stay healthy and safe throughout their lives. Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly and ensure that vaccinations are up-to-date. Provide adequate identification. Make sure your pet is wearing a tag that includes your contact information as well as a rabies tag. The best identification tag, one that will never fall off, is a microchip. Microchipping is a safe and painless procedure that can ensure that you are reunited with a lost pet. Microchipping is available at Young-Williams for only $20.

Animals provide comfort, entertainment and unconditional love, and they ask for little in return. So be kind to animals -- this week, and every week.

The Young-Williams Animal Center is the official animal shelter for Knox County and the city of Knoxville. The center is a nonprofit organization that turns no animal away and is dedicated to the sheltering and placement of animals, general animal welfare, and public education of companion animal issues.

The Young-Williams Animal Center is conveniently located just off Sutherland Avenue at the entrance to John Tarleton Park at 3201 Division St. in Knoxville. The center is 8/10th of a mile from the intersection of Kingston Pike and Neyland Drive/Concord Street and offers animals for adoption Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, including detailed driving directions, call 865-215-6599.