Animal Shelter’s upcoming adoption event takes on personal meaning

The Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter is preparing for another adoption event next weekend, but this time around it has become more personal to Paulette Walton.

Walton, part of the Friends of the shelter, said she recently fostered a black kitten who contracted ammonia, whom she has named Colt.

“I do not think the kitten would have survived in the shelter,” she said.

She said the responsibility to take care of the dozens of animals in Carter County falls onto the shoulders of a small staff who often do not have the resources to take care of many of the more ill animals they come across.

On her own, Walton has had to syringe-feed him, provide cleaner air for him to breathe easier and much more.

“It was very rewarding,” she said. “When you foster an animal, they do help people.”

The overpopulation at the shelter is part of the reason why volunteers are having to tend the animals themselves.

“It is my passion,” she said. “Now I see I can make a difference.”

Colt still does not play like eight-week-old kittens should, but Walton said he finally meowed just the other day, and she waits eagerly for the day when Colt feels well enough to play.

“[These animals] are exposed to the cold,” she said of the shelter’s conditions. “If people could foster and adopt, this is a good time to get them out of there.”

She said volunteers work hard to provide the best possible care for the animals, but the sheer number of them makes the necessary one-on-one care for animals like Colt difficult.

“They cannot give them one-on-one time,” she said.

The adoption event will take place between Thursday, Nov. 21, through Monday, Nov. 25. The shelter will even hold special hours Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.

Adult animal adoption fees will be $10, while puppies and kittens will go for $20.

For more information about the shelter or potential adoptions, contact the shelter at 135 Sycamore Drive, or by phone at 423-547-6359.

“They care so much about keeping these animals alive,” Walton said. “Getting people to come in and help is so important.”

SportsPlus

Local news

Elizabethton Woman’s Club sponsors community projects

Church News

Church News

Community

Upcoming Elizabethton Events

Community

Elizabethton Senior Center schedule

Local news

What makes Jesus weep?

Local news

City Council moves to accept applications for city judge

Local news

Elizabethton City Offices to close Feb. 17 for Presidents Day; Adjusted garbage collection schedule announced

Local news

City Mayor proclaims Feb. 15 as National School Resource Officer Day

Local news

Creating adaptive education solutions for kids in rural Tennessee

Local news

Harshbarger reintroduces ‘One Flag For All Act’

Local news

Flips can be a great investment, or a money pit

Local news

Proclamation Honors Alexander

Local news

Elizabethton Golf Course to reopen front nine effective Saturday

Local news

ETSU online MSN program ranked best in Tennessee

Local news

Smith named interim Carter County emergency management director

Local news

ECU’s Casual for a Cause program donates over $50K to local organizations

Local news

Gov. Lee signs historic Education Freedom Act into law

Local news

Carter County Sheriff’s Office mourns loss of SRO Salvatore Caccamo

Local news

Vanderbilt Transplant Center reaches new heights in 2024

Local news

Bill Hagerty announces candidacy for re-election to U.S. Senate

Local news

Unicoi County’s Ballad Health Hospital awarded $9.8 million to rebuild after Helene flooding

Local news

Master Storyteller Award and Performance scheduled March 5 at ETSU Martin Center

Local news

Ballad Health maintains ‘A’ credit ratings amid industry challenges

Community

Community Calendar