The Anderson County Animal Shelter does not have regular visiting hours, but if you see an animal on our Facebook page that you would like to meet, e-mail the shelter at acanimalshelter@andersoncountytn.gov or call the Anderson County Animal Shelter at (865) 264-6315 to schedule a visit. You may have to leave a message with your contact information. Our shelter hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed Wednesdays) and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each Saturday. The shelter is also closed each weekday from 12 to 1:00 p.m. for lunch.

Anderson County Animal Care & Control has also partnered with PetSmart Charities, Inc. Through PetSmart Charities, Inc., cats and kittens from our Anderson County Animal Shelter are housed in a local PetSmart's Adoption Center. If you are interested in adopting one of our shelter friends, you may visit them at the PetSmart Adoption Center at 203 E. Main Street in Oak Ridge. PetSmart hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. While ACACC does not have a PetSmart adoption center for dogs and puppies at this location, volunteers and staff regularly bring dogs from the shelter to the Oak Ridge PetSmart Adoption Center for adoption events.

As authorized and established by Anderson County Resolution No. 16-06-583, citizens who wish to adopt animals that have become eligible for adoption will be charged an $85.00 adoption fee.

Under Tennessee State law, TCA § 44-17-502, spay or neuter on an animal adopted from the Anderson County Holding Facility is required.

ACACC makes every effort to place adoptable pets in homes, or help transfer them to partner rescue organizations. We are thankful for the support we receive from local and regional rescues pulling our animals, and we are always looking to cultivate additional partnerships to find homes for adoptable pets.

Below is a list of a few of our registered Partners:

  • Adopt A Golden Knoxville Inc.
  • American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue
  • Anderson Farmers Co-Op
  • Anderson County Animal Rescue Foundation
  • Angels on Earth Rescue
  • Australian Shepherd Advocates
  • Belly Rubs Bassett Hound Rescue
  • Bettering Animal Rescue in the Knoxville Region (B.A.R.K.)
  • Clinch River Brewery
  • Clinton Animal Hospital
  • East Tennessee Border Collie Rescue
  • East Tennessee Boxer/Bulldog Rescue
  • East Tennessee Pit Bull Rescue—Knoxville, TN
  • East Tennessee Sheltie Rescue
  • Feral Feline Friends of East Tennessee
  • Fighting for the Bullys Pit Bull Rescue
  • Greyhound Rescue Foundation of Tennessee
  • Happy Paws Kitten Rescue
  • Halos Second Chance Animal Rescue-Murfreesboro
  • Horse Haven of East Tennessee
  • Humane Society of Tennessee Valley (HSTV)
  • Imminent Danger German Shepherd Rescue
  • Lab Retriever Rescue of East Tennessee
  • Little Ponderosa
  • Loudon County Friends of Animals
  • Middle Tennessee Boxer Rescue
  • National English Shepherd Rescue
  • National Great Pyrenees Rescue
  • PetSmart Charities, Inc.
  • Recycled Best Friends
  • Sheltie Rescue of East Tennessee Inc.
  • Shelter Animal Rescue Group (SARG)
  • Secret City Animal Rescue (SCAR)
  • Slumdog Rescue Crew
  • Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee
  • SOS Beagle Rescue
  • Stray Connection
  • Tennessee Dachshund Rescue
  • Tennessee Doberman Rescue Plus
  • Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Rescue
  • The Stray Connection
  • 865 Rescue and Rehome
  • Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York

Before being adopted, all dogs are vaccinated, receive deworming and Bordetella medication, and are tested for heartworm. Currently, we do not provide any testing or vaccination for the cats and we are working to accomplish this on our list of goals. All animals adopted or transferred to a partner rescue must be spayed or neutered.

Contact Form

    Business Hours

    You may contact the Anderson County Animal Shelter at (865) 264-6315 to schedule Return-To-Owner or Animal-Receiving. The Animal Shelter is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed Wednesdays) and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday. The facility is also closed each weekday from 12 to 1 p.m. for lunch.