McKamey Animal Center

I would give zero stars if I could. The staff is nice enough if you can get a hold of them, but I had to call their emergency line every hour for 5 hours in order to talk to someone on Monday. This is after I've called every extention, leaving voice mails and texts and having emailed all three emails listed on their website (still no response to any of them today too).

And unfortunately, I was calling about a pitbull having attacked another dog (for the second time). McKamey had already taken this same Pitbull away for charging at pedestrians while off leash with no owner to be found. We called the police that time because no one at animal control answers the phone, but then the police get mad if you don't call animal control.

McKamey also refuses to do anything about these Pitbull attacks besides a "court date for the owner" because the owner won't willingly give up his Pitbull. How can the law allow an aggressive dog to attack it's neighbors multiple times (the first time requiring stitches) and charge at pedestrians with zero consequences? I sure hope he doesn't attack me or a small child in the time it takes to finally get this aggressive animal placed elsewhere.

The picture is the aftermath of the second attack and the Pitbull gets to remain with his current owner who allowed this to happen multiple times.

This shelter needs a new Director and they need to be about the animals. Yes, they have a very nice building on the outside, but behind those doors horrible treatment of animals is happening. Wake up people, do your research on how many animals they euthanize each year.

I live in Rossville, Ga. I have called Mckamey before when they had pet food they were giving away and they told me they do not service Georgia. However, that didn't stop people from there from coming over the state line and trapping mine and my neighbors pets to spay and neuter, some of them already done, some of them never returned. I've called Mckamey about this and they refuse to take responsibility for it or to take steps to try to prevent it.

I'm doing a report on your charity and i hope you are doing your best with these animals. Have a good day.

I lost my american bull dog on 6-10-2012. I looked for her everywhere. I looked on Craig's list and found her at Mckamey shelter on access road in chattanooga ,Tn. I went to get her and was told it was going to cost me $ 90.00 to get her. That was ridiculous. She isn't a stray. She has an owner. They are promoting adopt a pet but all I wanted was my pet back. Some people don't have the money to pay to get their pets back so I guess that means they keep your pet and SALE it to someone else. I guess they are going to get their money one way or the other. I wouldn't recommend adopting a pet from there at all. The fees you have to pay are over board and you could be adopting someone else's pet who just couldn't afford to pay to get it back. How do you think that would make the person who couldn't get their pet back feel? I'm sure they don't care as long as the money keeps rolling in.

The McKamey Animal Center is a prime example of what an animal shelter should be for the entire community. They offer the whole package: adoptions, education, spaying/neutering, cruelty invesitgation, field services, partnerships, and more. I helped open the Center in 2008 and was there for their first adoption. It's always been about the animals...bottom line. The staff works out of passion for the thousands of dogs and cats who enter the open admissions facility. They do the work that most people wouldn't want to do. They are unsung heroes. I will plan to adopt my next dog from the Center!

My first exposure to the care, compassion and expertise of McKamey was in 2011 when a young black cocker spaniel (later named Maddie) was rescued and delivered to McKamey. Maddie's fur was matted in filth, feces and other unsanitary debris. The length of her fur prevented her from seeing or walking without any interference. Maddie arrived at McKamey around 5:30 in the evening. McKamey officials and volunteers treated Maddie for approximately 5 uninterrupted hours, removing over 3 laundry baskets of hair. No complaints were ever uttered or whispered throughout the entire procedure. McKamey offers a perfect haven for abused and neglected animals and it does so with superior care, compassion, knowledge and determination.

I have supported McKamey Animal Center for more than six years. It is by far one of the most compassionate and caring facilities anywhere. They have one focus - the welfare of the animals. The Center has earned and deserves the respect of their peers, the animal community and has received numerous awards and recognitions. The City of Chattanooga is fortunate to have this fine organization as an advocate for the animals in our community.

McKamey Animal Center has dedicated staff that demonstrate a love for the animals they serve, and people who visit express amazement at both the facility and the condition in which it is maintained. I especially love to see the happiness shared by visitors and the animals receiving attention. It is a place where volunteers can experience the love of the animals and find joy in seeing them find forever homes. It is the most rewarding volunteer experience I've ever had. John Williams

After meeting the members of the McKamey staff at an adoption event, I knew it was time to bring a dog into our family. In September, we adopted the most amazing dog that I have ever had the pleasure to know. We first met her online, and she immediately won our hearts. Kimmie was brought into McKamey as a stray puppy with her brother when they were only about 8 weeks old. Her brother was almost immediately adopted, but she was not so lucky. She had a serious infection in one of her eyes, and in spite of the heroic efforts of the McKamey staff the eye could not be saved. So she underwent surgery and the eye was removed. Now she had 2 strikes against her, she was a black dog and she had a disability. She spent the next 5 months alone in the shelter, and she never let any of this dampen her bright spirit. She won the staffs' hearts, and was a shelter favorite. They never gave up hope that she would find a forever home. The staff and Kimmie never gave up hope, and she now has a loving family to call her own.

I adoped my dog at McKamey in 2009. She has been a blessing for me. What little we know about her previous life isn't pleasant, but she is one of the best dogs most people have met. She has become a pet therapy dog and visits area hospitals to allow the patients an opportunity to love her. We go to McKamey every Christmas to have her picture taken with "Santa Claws" and my family and friends always receive the picture on a Christmas card. I think what this organization does for local homeless pets is amazing. They have definately given me one of the best gifts ever.

I adopted my beautiful cat Suds from McKamey in January of 2010. He was brought there as a baby and lived the first six months of his life in the facility. I was so impressed with how professional the staff was and how beautiful and clean the McKamey Center is. Suds was such a character and very used to being loved for the first part of his life in McKamey. I knew he must have had first rate care to be the kind of cat he was when I brought him home. He is such a loving and happy cat, and I'll always be grateful to McKamey for keeping him until he found a happy home.

I've been involved with a lot of non-profits over the years but McKamey is far and away my most satisfying opportunity to make a difference. Chattanooga's stray animal problem was an embarrassment to the city until local leaders announced a new shelter would be built. With state-of-the-art equipment and an exceptional caring staff, they are making inroads in our problem, gaining national recognition and showing the world we do care about helpless animals who are without a forever family through no fault of their own. I'm proud to tell people I'm a volunteer for McKamey.

I have served on the board of a number of non-profit organizations in our community and, I can say, without hesitation, that the McKamey Center uses what resources they have more compassionately, wisely and cost-effectively than many other agencies with much larger budgets and staffs. The Center has made a huge difference in our community in directing community attention toward the responsibility to spayor neuter, to advocate for the animals, to educate themselves to be more responsible pet owners, and to comply with our city's animal ordinances.

Adopted our first rescue dog in 2009 from McKamey and she's been a blast. We love how great our adoption experience was and the impact they're making on the animal friendliness of our community that we attended a McKamey fundraising event at a local minor league baseball team. There they had a foster dog to raise awareness that we fell in love with and he's now our newest child. Can't find nicer people, better facilities, or greater animals than those loved by McKamey. Thanks for all you do!

I have thought about adopting a pet for many years but have always purchased one from a small reputable breeder. I was nervous that if I adopted a pet it might be sick or have a behavioral issue. The staff at the mcKamey Cneter changed all that for me. I learned how much goes into preparing a pet for adoption and all the care that the McKamey team use to be sure that they adopt great healthy animals. My new dog is great. He is the healthiest happiest little guy. Now that I have him I will always adopt. I know there are no guarantees with ant pet and you love them all their lives through thick and thin but it is nice the lengths they go to to try to be sure every pets getsoff to a good start!