By ZOË HAGGARD - zhaggard@t-g.com
Bedford County Animal Control will be hosting a “Clear the Shelter” event on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where all adoption fees will be waived for the day.
Partnering with Hills Pet Nutrition and Greater Good Charities, the last Clear the Shelter fundraiser in Bedford was in 2019. According to animal control director Josie Lowery, 40 animals were adopted outright. And with the shelter nearly at capacity today, this event is much needed.
“We are full,” said Lowery. “As soon as we get the vet in and move everything up, it doesn’t take us two days to fill up.”
According to the July report, animal control took in 103 animals. The shelter currently has around 60 animals, while 11 animals were adopted this week and 15 the week before, according to intake coordinator Samantha Griffin. They have also had multiple rescues as well as several cats that were trapped, neutered, and released.
Since Clear the Shelter is a not for profit, Bedford County Animal Control will receive 100 percent of the proceeds which will go towards the veterinary fees to spay and neuter their animals as well as microchip both cats and dogs, which is required by the program.
The event this year will be different in that animal control is partnering with several local businesses, including Petsense, Middle Tennessee Spay and Neuter Clinic, Bell Buckle Country Kitchens, Mainstreet Nutrition, My Ride Bedford, Bedford County 4-H, and New Dog Destiny Rescue. These businesses will have booths set up on Saturday, encouraging more people to come visit the shelter.
“And we want to start getting our community involved,” said Lowery.
“So, you don’t have to come just to adopt an animal. You can support us just by being here,” said Griffin. “The truth is we can’t run without our community support.”
And of course, this wouldn’t be possible without those community partners.
“New Destiny Dog Rescue came in on some of our cases because I was like, I don’t have anywhere to put these animals. And they have definitely stepped in and pulled some animals,” said Lowery. Griffin said the rescue agency runs off of fosters, so the more fosters they get, the more animals they can save and pull from the shelter.
Griffin added that the local Co-Op and Tractor Supply have donated goods to the shelter for the event on the 27th. “They have gone above and beyond.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Bedford County Animal Control, can visit store.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/products/clear-the-shelters-bedford-county-animal-control. Or visit their Facebook page for more information.
