Finding Your New Best Friend – Programs and Volunteer Opportunities at the Williamson County Animal Center
Article by Karen Creason
Originally published in Franklin Lifestyle
Positioned in the cul-de-sac at 1006 Grigsby Hayes Court in Franklin is the new 35,000 square foot Williamson County Animal Center (WCAC). The award-winning facility houses a pet adoption area, cat and dog visitation rooms, an enclosed patio for cats, eight furnished free-roaming cat rooms (“Catios”), and unique dog pens and runs that open to the outside, a space designed for optimal care of adoptable animals.
Inside the climate-controlled exercise and behavior training room is being used to provide behavior training to shelter animals. WCAC plans to host behavior training classes for pets and their owners in the coming months.
Outside the beautiful back property provides a fenced puppy play yard, a large dog run, a wooded walking trail and a covered outdoor exercise yard pavilion.
WCAC’s mission “To make Williamson County, Tennessee better for animals through adoption, education, enforcement, and pet population control” is being met through their various programs.
The onsite veterinary office and surgery site is equipped to spay/neuter 8,000 animals each year. With an estimated 50,000 outdoor cats in Williamson County, the spay/neuter clinic at WCAC is having a huge impact on controlling the stray animal population in our community.
The community education center hosts events, meetings, and youth programs including:
Boy and Girl Scouts Pet Care Badges
Canine Advocate Program which teaches dog behavior awareness and bite prevention
Youth Service Days where youth build rabbit feeders, prepare lick mats for dogs, create enrichment toys, and more
Storytime at the Shelter (ages 3 – 5) allow children to bring a stuffed animal and listen to animal-related stories and songs (free)
Book Buddies Reading Program (ages 5 -12) provides a non-judgmental space for children to practice their reading skills by reading to and providing socialization for cats (free)
Summer is kitten season which swells the number of kittens rescued and brought to the center. Approximately one-quarter of the summer kittens will spend time in foster care. Today there are 171 kittens in foster care, as many are simply too young for adoption. Volunteer Katrina Brown states, “The number of kittens needing to be fostered goes up everyday.” Community Outreach Coordinator, Scott Pieper adds, “Fosters help with capacity issues at the shelter, socialization of the animals and ultimately impact the adoptability of our animals.”
Local Franklin resident and owner of A Fresh Space, Liz Jenkins, has been fostering kittens for 25 years. Liz states, “I love it! It is one of the best things I do in my life. I enjoy these adorable little creatures, and feel the stress fade away as I pay attention to them and the inevitable kitten pile. My day is completely changed for the better. I do this not only for me, but for the greater good as well. My goal is to help as many {kittens} as I can.”
But if being a foster partner is not for you, there are many other ways to help.
NO COST WAYS TO HELP
Conduct a donation drive or online fundraiser. Shop using Amazon Smile with Friends of WCAC (listed as Williamson Animal Services, Inc.), or connect your Kroger Plus Card to FWCAC (VL546 – Williamson Animal Services, Inc.)
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Children ages 14 and older (younger with an adult) can become a cat/kitten volunteer. Duties include socializing cats and providing lots of love to the shelter cats and kittens. Children ages 16 and older (younger with an adult) can become a dog/puppy volunteer. Duties include walking dogs, socializing dogs, and providing lots of love to the shelter dogs.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
The online Home & Classroom Service Project booklet provides how-to instructions for making items that will be used by our animals. There are options for all skill levels and many use inexpensive household materials! If you wish to make a financial donation, you could purchase needed items from the WCAC Amazon or Chewy wish lists, make a tax-deductible donation, sponsor an adoption or kennel, or purchase a memorial paver.
INTERESTING FACTS
- WCAC returned 40% of strays brought to the center to their owners
- WCAC boasts a 97% live release rate
- 2021 Total animal intake: 4,202
- 2021 Total adopted: 2,113
- Rabies and microchip clinics are held monthly
- 3,304 spay/neuter surgeries were performed on intake animals and 1,180 surgeries on community cats in 2021
- All food, medical needs, toys and supplies are provided to foster partners
- Over the course of eight years, a single female cat (and her mate) can be responsible for 2,072,514 offspring! Adoptwcac.org Instagram: @wcanimalcenter
