Animal Harbor

09/19/2024

The Education and Outreach committee at Animal Harbor is dedicated to engaging with the youth in Franklin County. By partnering with elementary school student advocates, we have initiated an educational initiative to empower students to become both self advocates and animal welfare aware.

Recently, we launched our first in-school session at Cowan Elementary for all kindergarten students. During the session, the teacher shared a storybook and lesson on safe interactions with unfamiliar and unleashed dogs. Animal Harbor's staff and volunteers also brought in dogs, enabling the children to apply their newfound skills with real animals.

This joint endeavor to impart practical knowledge and advocate for safe interactions with children and dogs presents a valuable opportunity for our young community members.

To learn more about this initiative and it's importance, read Animal Harbor's executive director's blog post here:

https://www.animalharbor.org/post/building-a-kinder-future-the-importance-of-dog-safety-and-canine-welfare-education-for-elementary-a

09/19/2024

We can't wait to see you at our annual Fall event!

Join us as we "Paws" for Lunch and remember the homeless animals in Franklin County and honor all of the people that do good for the animal community ❤️🐾

We do ask that you RSVP by following this link and sharing your contact details with us so we can best accommodate you 👇😊

https://forms.gle/pgsbcb2k6FApzfBP6

09/17/2024

We are participating again and hope that you find your forever companion during October's ETS event.

Our homeless pet population needs you now more than ever ❤️🐈‍⬛🐕

Empty the Shelters is back! 🎉💚💙

Our nation’s shelters are facing an overcapacity crisis, with 322,000 more pets entering the system than leaving this year. Adoption is needed now more than ever to save lives! BISSELL Pet Foundation's Fall National Empty the Shelters™ event will occur from Oct. 1-15 at 360+ participating organizations in 43 states.

Help us take as many pets as possible from shelter kennels to the couches of loving homes by bringing home a spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped pet for $50 or less!

Learn more & find a shelter near you: https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/empty-the-shelters/

09/13/2024

The Education and Outreach committee at Animal Harbor is dedicated to engaging with the youth in Franklin County. By partnering with elementary school student advocates, we have initiated an educational initiative to empower students to become both self and animal advocates.

Recently, we launched our first in-school session at Cowan Elementary for all kindergarten students. During the session, the teacher shared a storybook and lesson on safe interactions with unfamiliar and unleashed dogs. Animal Harbor also brought in dogs, enabling the children to apply their newfound skills with real animals. This joint endeavor to impart practical knowledge and advocate for safe interactions with children and dogs presents a valuable opportunity for our young community members.

Read the rest of the story here:

In a world where compassion and understanding are more important than ever, educating our youngest generation about dog safety and canine welfare is a vital step towards creating a kinder, more empathetic society. Teaching elementary-aged children about these topics not only ensures the well-being o...

09/13/2024

Huge shout out to all 8 fosters who took a total of 15 cats into their homes while Lowes Hometown shelter renovations were taking place!

By the looks of the photos you guys shared with us, it looks like they had a great time away! ❤️🏡

09/12/2024

Hemi's story is one that shows the why and how our canine enrichment programs transform 🌟 lives.

Hemi was transferred into our shelter in November 2023 from animal control after she had a litter of puppies. She was stunningly beautiful but carried emotional scars and lacked proper socialization.

The day she came into our shelter, we fell in love, but knew that she would need some extra love, care, and training. The leader of our Enrichment team, Krystina Broda, went to work to get a behavior modification plan secured to turn Hemi’s seemingly bad habits around and get her on the path to a successful adoption.

Hemi soon became a staff and volunteer favorite. She transformed from a fearful, unsocialized dog that didn’t play well with others to one that played well in doggie playgroups, looked forward to car rides, and enjoyed being around all kinds of people. Without the commitment of our staff leader and group of dog volunteers, none of this would have been possible.

Hemi was in our care for 259 days! While she didn’t find her forever home in Tennessee, an incredible, dog-experienced man in Minnesota fell head over heels for Hemi (now Emmy) and to accommodate Hemi’s individual needs to be transported in a quiet space, her staff bestie Krystina transported her to Minnesota to meet her dad face to face. Hemi now lives in an environment of nirvana, has a doggie sibling, and a firm leader that will never let her down.

To make the story even sweeter, Hemi is currently in training to become a Search and Rescue dog. We couldn’t be more proud of this story and the impact that our lifesaving programs have on creating a clear, secure pathway to forever happily ever after.

09/11/2024

The Lowe’s Hometowns shelter renovation project is a true testament to the power of community and the generosity of volunteers.

Today, on Red Vest Day over 2️⃣0️⃣ Lowe’s employees generously donated their time to transform Animal Harbor- their dedication and hard work resulting in a stunning new space for our furry friends 🐾🐈‍⬛.

Thanks to their efforts, our shelter now boasts 2,000 square feet of brightly painted walls and durable FRP boarding in our cat community rooms.

We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to create a more welcoming and comfortable environment for our animals and the community we serve.

Without the support of Lowe's Home Improvement, the Lowe's Hometowns Program grant, and their incredible team of employees/volunteers, this project would not have been possible.

09/11/2024

While we know cat and kitten food is not the most fun item to purchase for the animals at the harbor, quality food is essential for the animals' welfare. Keeping up with the extra expenses of an ever growing cat wing and supporting those with special prescription diets is a lot to undertake on our own!

If you can help us by dropping off Purina Kitten Chow, Purina Kitten Fancy Feast wet food, or Purina Cat Chow at the shelter we would be so grateful.

If you can't squeeze that into your busy schedule, no worries, click donate below and help support our cat fund!

Let's get these babies fed and healthy 🐾🐈‍⬛!

09/09/2024

Of course the purrfect kitten exist!

NOVAK ❤️🐾

Apply to adopt a kitten today!

www.animalharbor.org/ourpets

09/07/2024

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our shelter animal enrichment programs!

These rockstars give their all to the shelter dogs in our shelter and we couldn't be more grateful ❤️🐕

Wanna join us?

Connect with us here:
📃 https://forms.gle/Vp8aSUWKLXRVyxkb9

09/05/2024

Today is . Today we on pet adoption and remember all those that don't make it out of shelters alive.

🕯️ Will you remember them? 🕯️

Have you adopted 🏡 a rescue pet? Tell us how it changed your mind about choosing adoption over buying a pet.

09/04/2024

We are still looking for kitten fosters for our renovation project happening next week! If you can temporarily take a kitten or two into your home Sept. 10-12 we would be very thankful ❤️

We make pickup and drop off easy peasy!

Apply to foster here and we will be in touch:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12OglDfA75C0mJUPkguTvdpvuGvWdDshSN5_sEMy4pOI/edit?usp=drivesdk

09/03/2024

⚠️Please beware of puppy mill and unethical breeders. They ARE in our community. ⚠️

It's up to us NOT to support their greedy and neglectful practices.

The animals are the ONLY ones suffering.

As cute as the puppy may be, bad genetics will affect you and the dog's health one day.

For the love of dogs, let's do better. Please.

September is National Puppy Mill Awareness Month! 🐶 🐾

Puppy mills are large-scale, unregulated, for-profit breeding operations. Puppies from puppy mills are often sick, unsocialized, and live in confined conditions. The adults are forced to breed and are discarded when they are no longer useful. Learn to recognize the red flags; together, we can make a difference and stop the suffering.

09/02/2024

We hope you had a doggone 🐕 purrfect 🐈‍⬛ Labor Day!

08/31/2024

Tina Stevens sweeps kitty Tululah right out of the shelter and into our foster to adopt 🏡 program!

It's not everyday adopters are intrigued by our pets' names, but in this case, Tina loved Tululah's name (and plans to keep it and call her Lou), sweet nature, and beautiful looks!

🫣Sneak peak at the wall color chosen for our Lowe's Hometowns Renovation Project!😜

08/30/2024

📣😻 Calling all KITTEN lovers 📣 😻

On September 11th our cat community rooms are going to be undergoing a BIG revamp 🎨🚧!

But where will the kittens go⁉️

We need the community's help!

Can you provide a fun and cozy place for them to stay September 10-12?

If you can't foster, please SHARE ➡️

Complete a foster form and we will be in contact with you about pickup and dropoff arrangements ❤️❤️

📑 Apply: https://forms.gle/XRHcBB7ybg47pSEp7

Become a foster - it is a cost-free way to give back

08/29/2024

We are excited to announce that our community pack walks will continue into the fall 🍁 and winter ❄️

Put on your warm clothes and come walk with us.

🧺Picnic in the Park: Pack Walk Edition🐕‍🦺

The goal of these community pack walks 🚶🐕 is to involve our community in a new way and to enrich the dogs outside of the shelter (the best kind of enrichment!)

👇Please learn more and sign up here to join us 👇

📑 https://forms.gle/Lg4sKFCfwHNkp9H69

🐕‍🦺 We bring the dogs to you- you just meet us at the park for a fun morning of socializing and bonding with a dog.

🥪 A sack lunch will be provided.

🚫 You will not be pressured to adopt.

❤️ Please only sign up if you can be sure to show up for your dog!

08/26/2024

In honor of National Dog Day 🐾🐕, our friends at Franklin County Realty brought the staff by a goody box filled with beautiful cookies and more.

This is OUR community.

Showing love to the staff on the frontlines of saving lives is so important as they face more challenging work than most can comprehend. Having kindness shown to us makes us feel very special.

Thank you Marcia and her sweet pet Layla ❤️😻

08/26/2024

🎯 Animal Harbor supporters were right on target for the 12th Annual Bone Drop! 🎯

It was a truly magical evening filled with joy, laughter, and a deep sense of gratitude.

Our volunteers and guests braved the scorching heat with unwavering enthusiasm, their dedication to our cause shining brighter than the sun 🌞. We were overwhelmed by the love and support from our community, as evidenced by the incredible display of generosity and the turnout of friends, families, and furry companions.

The generosity of our donors knows no bounds. A record-breaking 🦴 340 bones 🦴 were secured, making this our most successful Bone Drop yet.

The funds raised will directly support our lifesaving programs and help us continue to provide care and shelter for countless animals while also providing spay neuter services for hundreds of community pets.

We are eternally grateful to each and every donor who participated in this year's Bone Drop. Your support means the world to us.

A special thanks to our friends at Decherd Fire & Rescue for their thrilling bone-dropping performance and to Melissa DuVall for her beautiful and uplifting music.

Our Canine Enrichment Team outdid themselves, creating a memorable pool party for our adoptable dogs and their human play pals. The love and care they pour into these animals is truly inspiring.

A heartfelt thank you to The Loaded Tater Co. and Recippi's Italian Ice for providing delicious food and refreshments for our guests.

And to everyone who helped spread the word about the event through social media, advertising, word of mouth, and radio, your contributions were invaluable.

We are humbled by the outpouring of support from our community. It's a testament to the power of compassion and the belief that every abandoned life deserves a second chance.

2024 Winners:

🏆1st place ($3,000 prize): Clements Insulation
🎀 2nd place ($1,500 prize): Linda Williams
🦴 3rd place ($500 prize): Anonymous Dog Lover

08/22/2024

Oliver and Anna make the purrfect match! ❤️😻

What do you think!?

08/20/2024

🦴🦴There is still time to secure your bone for this weekend's iconic Bone Drop event! 🦴🦴

We are only 24 bones away from breaking last year's record number of bones sold!

The shelter is under construction, so please call when you arrive and we will safely help you :)

❓❓Questions? Contact Emily 👇👇

931-962-4472

08/18/2024

We are so excited for Frida who got her "free"dom ride this weekend to her forever home ❤️

Frida and her siblings came in as babies who had been dumped during the snowstorm in January, and sadly grew up in the shelter system.

After growing up in the shelter and finally finding the perfect family, the past is now in this sweet girl's rearview mirror!

Thank you for making this adoption transport possible, Rescue Riders Pet Transport 🚐

Happy life Frida! ☀️❣️🎉

08/17/2024

Every rescued dog is a rainbow 🌈 after the storm ⛈️ of their past.

Are you looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and maybe a furry friend?

Visit www.animalharbor.org to learn more about us and meet our adoptables waiting for their happily ever after ❤️🏠.

08/17/2024

Our kittens have names!! Meet Natasha 😸, Pierre 😸, and Comet 😸 named by Jennifer Matthews.

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions that we will use for future kittens ❤️🥰

08/16/2024

We are so excited 🎉 to announce our official line up for next weekend's Bone Drop festivities at the shelter!

Come see us and experience so many fun things that will be happening Saturday August 24 5-7 pm. This is a FREE EVENT for the community ❤️

We will have:

🎵🎸Live music by Melissa DuVall
💦🐾 Pool, picnics, and painting with the shelter dogs
🍧🍨 Repicci's Italian ice and gelato food truck
🥔👩‍🍳🥪 Delicious food from the Loaded Potato Co.
🚒👨‍🚒Fire truck tours and the iconic BONE DROP by Decherd Fire & Rescue 🦴

And MORE

We love our volunteers, donors, and vendors that have made this event possible.

🦴⚠️ There is still time to purchase your bones! See flyer for more info 🦴⚠️

The only game of chance GUARANTEED to save a life- THE BONE DROP.