With over 120 stores nationwide, Petsense is the business of helping the animals of the community.

To work with the suitable weather forecast over the weekend, Petsense, along with a host of local agencies, banded together to help animals find new homes in Elizabethton for the store’s adoptathon.  

“We do this twice a year,” Shelia Akin, Petsense store manager said Sunday. “We work with all of our stores nationwide, we all do it the same weekend. We also work with our local shelter and rescue groups to find as many animals homes that we can. We do different activities and it benefits the local shelters that participate.”

Various groups took part in the program, including Mary Kay, the Elizabethton Fire Department, Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

“Sometimes people don’t have time to go to the shelter,” Akin said. “This brings everyone all together, along with the groups, for one weekend to be able to have the animals get out of the shelter to find their forever homes.

“This actually gives the community a chance to get involved,” Akin continued. “It’s a perfect chance to raise awareness and we have a good relationship with the animal shelter. We adopt their cats out all year long. This just gives us all a chance to come together and make a difference in the lives of the animals.”

Akin went on to add that as of Sunday, the store had adopted out 10 animals.

“It varies,” she added. “Petsense of Elizabethton has around six to 12 that go out each time we do this.”

The weekend event also proved to be a key time for the animal shelter, according to director Katelyn Harrington.

“They’ve gave us a lot of space here to bring in the cats and dogs,” Harrington said. “We able to get, I believe, nine adopted out yesterday. We’ve had four go home today. It’ll certainly help out the shelter to give us more space to take in animals. “

The partnership between Petsense and the animal has been fruitful over the years, Akin said, and looks to move forward with the addition of Harrington at the facility.

“Well, with the few days I’ve had to talk with her, It’s gone really well,” Akin said with a laugh. “(Katelyn) is really sweet and wants to make a difference.”

And the director was quick to follow up Akin’s comments with praise of her own.

“The fact they’re working with us is fantastic,” she said. “Even when they don’t have the event going on, they have cages for us to keep cats in so that the public can see them more frequently. Not everybody knows where the shelter is located but everybody stops by the pet stores, so it’s nice to have that outlet.”

In conjunction with the Petsense event, the animal shelter is waiving the adoption fee for cats and dogs Harrington added. Individuals can also receive a microchip and will only have to pay the spay/neuter fee for dogs and cats. Cats are priced at $35 at the shelter while adopting a dog costs $45.

For more information on animals at the shelter, call (423) 547-6359 or visit their location at 253 Sycamore Shoals Drive in Elizabethton.