Due to the situation surrounding novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Young-Williams Animal Center has issued an urgent call for adult dog fosters, adoptions, donations and supplies.

As an essential business and the official shelter of the city and county, Young-Williams Animal Center continues to serve as the first stop for our community’s stray and lost animals. Without regular visits from the public, the shelter can run out of space due to animals coming in without enough animals being adopted out.

To protect visitors and employees, the shelter at 3201 Division St., is offering curbside pickup for fosters and limiting occupancy. Fosters can apply online, and, upon approval, will be contacted to pick up their dog curbside.

Inside the shelter, occupancy is restricted to 10 people in each department at a time . Visitors can text the number posted on the door to get in line, and then wait in their car for notification to enter.

“We have made changes to keep our visitors and employees as safe as possible, and we also encourage people to consider supporting us during this difficult time,” says Janet Testerman, CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center. “If you are unable to take in an animal or give a pet a forever home, you can still help online. The best ways to support from home are to donate or send us supplies from our online wishlist.”

To care for animals who enter the shelter’s foster care program and ensure no financial burden falls on foster families, Young-Williams Animal Center provides all necessary veterinary care and supplies for fosters. The shelter also is asking the community to donate collapsible wire kennels to safely transition animals into their foster homes.

In addition, Young-Williams Animal Center continues to be a resource for pet owners who may experience unexpected shortages in pet supplies and food and need assistance to keep pets in their homes.

The shelter’s Pet Resource Center needs donations of dog food, cat food, litter, litter boxes, small animal food and small animal bedding to help pet owners in need, especially in a time of economic uncertainty and work stoppages.

“By providing these items, we will be able to keep more animals in their current homes,” Testerman says. “In order to preserve space for incoming animals and lost pets, we temporarily will not be accepting surrendered pets unless the owner has passed away or is in an emergency situation with no other options. These donations are critical, because so many owners just need a little help right now.”

Young-Williams Animal Center has created a special wish list for its most needed items. For more information, visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3F9NQ3YXCNM7Y/ref=cm_go_nav_hz. Gifts of supplies also can be sent directly to Young-Williams Animal Center’s 3201 Division St. location.

If you prefer monetary donations, these also are welcome, and Young-Williams will direct the funds to areas with the greatest needs. To donate, visit http://www.young-williams.org//donations/.

Young-Williams Animal Center at 3201 Division St., is open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and closed for one hour from 1-2 p.m. for animal quiet time. The Young-Williams Animal Village at 6400 Kingston Pike is temporarily closed for adoptions because it is being used for animal housing and care in order to open space at the main shelter.

For more information, call 865-215-6599 or visit http://www.young-williams.org//.