Who We Are:
East Tennessee Spay & Neuter is a non-profit corporation, with the sole purpose to end the use of euthanasia as population control for companion animals. We're a small, all-volunteer group that provides transport to a regional low-cost spay-neuter clinic and education about proper pet care. We also assist low-income families in finding financial aid for surgery and related costs. We receive no public funding, and although we work with these groups, we are not affiliated with Carter County Humane Society, Elizabethton Animal Shelter, or any other animal rescue group.
Our other projects include a local low-cost veterinary wellness clinic, a pet food pantry, a help phone line, a short-term foster network, and a non-profit multi-purpose pet center for adoptions, training, grooming, and other pet-related services.
We are also working with the New Shelter for Carter County group to build a new shelter and promote an aggressive spay-neuter program in the County. Step by step, we are making a difference in the lives of animals--everything we do helps us get closer to our goal!
What We Do:
East Tennessee Spay & Neuter helps residents of Carter County & surrounding areas by:
1. Providing transport to and from a regional low-cost spay-neuter clinic and financial aid for pet owners in Carter County and nearby areas.
2. Working with local businesses and residents to raise funds for a local veterinary wellness clinic and pet center.
3. Educating pet owners about proper pet care & the benefits of spay/neuter.
So far, ETSN has transported nearly 1000 pets to the Margaret Mitchell Spay-Neuter Clinic in Bristol, VA, and has been instrumental in helping a large percentage of the owners get financial assistance from groups such as the Carter County Humane Society, Siberian Husky Rescue Assist, and Animal Defense League. ETSN has also provided assistance through a grant from the Elizabethton-Carter County Community Foundation, which is an organization of the East Tennessee Foundation.
In addition to those pets transported, ETSN has gotten low-cost vouchers for over 200 animals adopted from the Elizabethton Animal Shelter. Most of these pets were taken to Sycamore Shoals Animal Hospital, the only veterinarians in Carter County who will accept the vouchers for low cost visit, surgery, and shots.
The most important thing we want to get across to the people of Carter County and surrounding areas is that there ARE alternatives for getting your pet spayed or neutered at a greatly reduced cost.
Costs at the Margaret Mitchell Clinic are as follows: dogs are $60 for spay or neuter, regardless of size. Female cats are $55; male cats are $40, and shots are $10 each. Our transport fee is $15 for the first animal and $10 each for additional animals from the same family on the same trip. (This is for two round trips to Bristol, VA--take up one day, bring home the next.) If you are low income, you may qualify for other assistance. There are also specials for large dogs and litters of kittens.
Don't let money keep you from getting your pet spayed or neutered...
We can help!
DON'T LITTER! FIX YOUR CRITTER!
Why We Do It: (Some Facts About East Tennessee)
1. Many parts of the local counties are poor, rural areas of Appalachia. Average wages are less than $10 an hour.
2. There is a sales tax of 10% on every purchase—including food & clothing.
3. The local animal shelters are generally tiny, severely underfunded, and in poor condition, with a kill rate averaging 75-90%.
4. As many as 80% of pets have never seen a veterinarian, and due to prevailing attitudes and economic constraints, most receive little or no medical assistance for even the most minor ailments or injuries.
5. Very few animals are spayed or neutered, and many roam and breed freely and repeatedly. There are also many "backyard breeders" who contribute to the already high population of unwanted animals.
Our Goals:
#1: LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER FOR EVERY PET
What We’re Doing:
1. Providing low-cost vouchers for spay-neuter and office visit for pets adopted from Elizabethton Animal Shelter.
2. Providing transport to regional low-cost spay-neuter clinics for pets in East Tennessee. Assisting low-income individuals to find financial aid to pay for their pet’s surgery.
3. Raising money to purchase, equip, and staff a low-cost veterinary wellness clinic with transport to reach outlying rural areas.
#2: A NON-PROFIT PET CARE AND SERVICES FACILITY
What We’re Doing:
Working with local businesses, banks, professionals, and grant foundations to start, staff, and operate a non-profit pet center that will include such things as pet adoption, daycare, grooming, training, and vet care facility. All profits from this business would go directly to fund the East Tennessee Spay & Neuter programs, eliminating the need to do as much fundraising, and allowing us to focus solely on reaching and saving more animals.