BCAWS

12/20/2025

A Holiday update on one of our sweet BCAWS dogs Vale that has recently been adopted. She is living the high life now with her new mom Catherine Busch and her four legged brother Dash. Vale did not have the best start to life but with her mom’s patience and love, she is doing better every day and turning out to be a great dog.

We would also like to give a big shout out to Vale’s foster parents that she had before finding her forever home, Ted and Debbie Kesteloot. Without foster families and volunteers we could not make all these adoptions happen. 🥰 Thank You

12/19/2025

Swee’Pea aka Lilo needs a hero! This girl has been through it – brought to the shelter as a pregnant stray; fostered through her pregnancy, whelping and weaning (8 puppies); and taken back to the shelter for adoption. Adopted and returned through no fault of her own.
She did her time on the streets, and in the shelter, and now she needs a dedicated person (or family!) to love her and ensure she never knows instability again.

Here’s what’s great about Swee’Pea:
* She is so full of love and bonds hard with her person!
* She is OK with other dogs, but can be bossy, so needs someone with experience managing multiple dogs.
* She is good with cats, and they seem to love her!
* She is crate trained, and actually loves to go in her crate when asked to!
* She is site loyal, which means she doesn’t show a tendency to wander. She likes to stay close to her house and her person.
* She’s on the small side, just 40 pounds!
* She is spayed and up to date on vaccines.

Swee’Pea needs a hero to give her the permanent home she deserves. She will repay her hero with enough dog love to fill the world!
For further info please contact
Kristin at 865-599-4262,
or Janet at 865-271-8337
Swee’Pea is located near Maryville TN.

12/19/2025

Some of our favorite photos from yesterday's kennel build.

12/19/2025

WOW! We had 20 volunteers show up yesterday to put up two large kennels to get 2 large shepherds out of their small kennels and into ones where they have room to run. This was only possible because ChainFree USA in Knoxville came through with the 22 kennel panels to create one 30x30 kennel and one 20x40. This is a short video, but it'll give you an idea how this project came together and the hard work our volunteers put in when they go on a job. We love our volunteers! We'll be putting photos in a separate album.
We'll be putting photos in a separate album.

When Blount County Animal Welfare Society (BCAWS) and Chainfree Knoxville heard about a couple of large shepherds that were living in small quarters, they j...

12/19/2025

At this time of the year we hear many stories about the three wise men, let me introduce you the fourth. He is a deep thoughtful warm soul, that is caring, loving, and his name is Sherman. He has been patiently waiting six months for someone to notice his soulful eyes and kind heart. Other dogs have picked up on it right away and enjoy being around him. He enjoys walks, playing in the yard, but also cuddling with you on the couch. He is a joyful, handsome, love bug looking for a forever home. If you would like to learn more about him please contact Kristin at 865-599-4262.

12/18/2025

Pearls symbolize purity, wisdom, and inner knowledge. They offer protection, promote tranquillity, and good fortune. To find good quality Pearls you look for its bright glow and luster, its size (bigger is better), Pearls come in various colors, and real Pearls feel gritty sometimes (fakes are smooth and always well behaved) and this Pearl is no fake.

This girl is somewhat of a diva, and enjoys the company and playtime of some of her male dog friends but is not a big fan of sharing a house with a female. Pearl enjoys humans, long walks, playtimes, rides, and adventures. She has been fully vetted, spayed, and is ready for her forever home. If you would like to learn more about this gem, contact Kristin at 865-599-4262.

12/18/2025

Thankful for our partners, fosters, vols and others who don’t turn their heads, cover their ears or close their eyes to animal welfare and shelter overpopulation. IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS ALONE these kids have been given a second chance because of people who care and act:

Mabel – young Treeing Walker Coonhound found as a stray in northeast TN, soon to be on her way to her new home thanks to BCAWS fosters and American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue.

Charlie Brown litter – (6) five-week-old puppies found running in the road in Monroe County, now safely tucked away with fosters. Will soon be spayed/neutered and on to new homes thanks to Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York

Macy – 1.5 yr abandoned beagle mix living outside whose rescuer took her in but could no longer keep her. Got her this week and she is now spayed, warm and ready for a new family. Warm doghouses were provided for the other 2 pups living there.

Mokie – a 3 yr old lab/terrier mix abandoned at Wagging Tails pet resort a year ago. Instead of taking him to the overfull shelter, kennel staff bunked him for over a year looking for a home. But he was starting to shut down. When adopters arrived for a meet and greet with BCAWS girl Pearl, Mokie nosed his way in, showered them with kisses, and said “I’m yours”. It worked. He’s home. Pearl took one for the team and we will find her a home.

Rocky and Rebel – big dogs living outside in 10x10 kennels 24/7. Thanks to ChainFree USA and BCAWS volunteers, these kids will soon have more straw, doghouses and room to run!

9 kittens – strays living out in the cold with no shelter. Thanks to Traci and Deb, these babies are safe inside and getting spayed/neutered.

On behalf of these kids, thank you to Village Veterinary Hospital; Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York; American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue; The Pup Tent, Boarding & Grooming; Wagging Tails pet resort; fosters Lori, Judy, Samantha, Whitney, Tammy and Traci; Deb Marsh; Young Williams Spay and Neuter Solutions; ChainFree USA; PPAW Spay Neuter Clinic, and all the caring people who stepped up to help.

12/17/2025

Cinnamon is a quintessential Christmas scent and flavor, symbolizing holiday warmth in baking (rolls, cookies, cakes), festive drinks (mulled wine, cider), and homemade crafts like fragrant, long-lasting cinnamon ornaments made with applesauce or salt dough, filling homes with nostalgic aromas. In history it was also a symbol of immense wealth and worldly trade.

If you are in need of some Cinnamon in your house, you are in luck! We have a cute spicy Tabby named Cinnamon for you that is a sweet as can be. 😻 If you would like to offer Cinnamon a home for the holidays or get a little more information, contact Kristin at 865-599-4262 or pm us.

12/16/2025

Update on BCAWS wonderful long-term foster boy Boogie. 🥰

12/15/2025

Meet Granny Gretel! This girl is 11 years young and weighs in at 34 lbs. If you are looking for a couch dog, tv watching buddy that enjoys short walks and has great leash manners, this may be your girl! Gretel is house broken, good in or out of crate… unless you leave food at an available location..

She is good with other dogs but may do best avoiding living with a dominant dog as she is opinionated. Great with cats and hasn’t met a stranger. Great old lady bark too!

Her only downfall is she may have some long term allergies. She responds very well to cytopoint and is perfect for baths. She had horrible flea allergies and this may just be lingering itch.

She is fully vetted. As you can see by the pictures she is a big couch potato and loves to snuggle indoors, especially on the couch with her human. If you think you can give this wonderful girl a home, please contact Kristin at 865-599-4262 or pm us.

12/15/2025

Congratulations to Nougat and Nigel, two more of Nellie’s babies, that were adopted this weekend at the adoption clinic event. Thank you again Janet Lee for being a great foster mom for BCAWS and Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York for helping us with all our puppies. 🥰

12/14/2025

I have a t shirt that says, “I like dogs and maybe 3 people”. Don’t want to talk about the people part, but here’s why I love these wonderful selfless creatures.

Our beautiful, smart Pearl had a meet and greet with potential adopters yesterday up at Wagging Tails pet resort. She did good – calm, friendly and a little cautious which is understandable since she’s had some not-so-great interactions with people in her past.

As Teresa described Pearl’s behavior, she mentioned that Pearl doesn’t care to share her space with female dogs but adores her boy buddies Buster and Mokie. When Teresa expressed concern that Mokie, abandoned at WT over a year ago, was starting to withdraw, the adopters asked to meet him. That boy came bounding into the pen and just about licked them to death. It was love at first sight! Mokie got the home!

Here's the deal - I firmly believe Pearl took one for the team. She knew her friend Mokie was struggling without his own family. And although she needs her own family too, she’s OK for now hanging out at WT with Buster and the staff. Many thanks to Teresa and Wagging Tails pet resort for the loving care provided these dogs, and to Mokie’s new family for making that boy part of their family.

Happy life sweet Mokie! BTW, pm our page or contact Kristin at 865-599-4262 if you want to meet Pearl!