Focus on Cumberland County Animal Safety

The shelter has a short list of items that is uses on a daily bases & very little money is allocated in the county budget for their purchase. FOCCAS delegates a percentage of all money raised or donated (unless otherwise specified by the donor) for the purchase of these high demand items. They include dog/puppy food; cat/kitten food; cat litter; cleaning supplies. We publish a "shelter wish list" on our website as well as in our informational material, to encourage the public to make needed in kind donations to the shelter.
We have established an emergency medical fund for animals that are brought in to the shelter with injuries or illnesses. We also help cover the cost of medical care for shelter animals that have been pulled by local rescue organizations. This fund is also used to purchase frequently used medications at the shelter.

Breaking the Chains is a new program being launched in 2018 after one test case in 2017. The program objective is to free as many tethered dogs as possible and help individuals and families become better more responsible and compassionate pet owners. The City of Crossville is considering a tethering ordinance and has asked FOCCAS to better fund and promote this program to assist low income families become compliant if the ordinance passes.   Many low income families rent the homes they live in and kennels may be a better option than permanent fencing. We expect the families we help to be partners in the project, either by assisting with funding or with sweat equity.

The FOCCAS Distress Animal Fund fills a prevalent need in our community. Many pets are abandoned on the roadside by their owners and strays are often left to fend for themselves for long periods of time. Kind-hearted citizens often rescue these animals and find they are serious injuries or illnesses that need to be addressed right away. The county animal shelter does not have the funding required to help such animals and there is a risk of euthanization if they are taken there. This program allows us to save these abandoned pets by covering the expenses of their medical needs. FOCCAS members provide foster homes until they can be adopted into loving permanent home.  Each one is altered, wormed, heart worm tested (and treated, if necessary) and vaccinated.

FOCCAS launched CORD in the winter of 2018-19 in order to address the suffering and neglect we witness in our community on a regular basis. Much of the neglect we see is due to lack of understanding and/or lack of resources. CORD seeks to address these issues by providing education and the needed resources to allow dogs who are forced to live outside, better and safer lives. We offer free dog houses for those who have none or have substandard shelter as well as straw for houses in the winter time. We offer kennels for small dog being housed outside in order for them to be allowed to come inside at night to keep them safe. Our volunteers have made 60 pound tip-proof water and food bowls with a removable 5 qt stainless steel bowl in a poured concrete base. FOCCAS on Breaking the Chains is an important aspect of CORD as well as offering spay and neuter options for dogs tethered outside.

Many homeless, lost and injured cats are
rescued by our volunteers. They specialize in helping community
cats through the national TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and
Return) program. Stray cats living in colonies are trapped,
neutered, inoculated, and fostered until they can be adopted; truly feral cats are treated and returned to their colony. When possible, we take in pets being surrendered by their owners and more often, stray kittens and adult cats. Once healthy and fully vetted, they are adopted into loving homes.

Abandoned, stray and homeless dogs & puppies are a constant occurance in our rural county. There are hundreds unwanted litters born every year. Although we have a county-run animal shelter, they are often full and the waiting list for owners surrendering their pets in months long. FOCCAS is the only resuce opperating in Cumberland County . We accept a large population of dogs and puppies. Each one is fostered in a home environment, fully vetted and placed for adoption on Petfinder and AdoptAPet. We frequently rescue "unadoptable" pets such as hospice dogs and unsocialized dogs. They remain in foster care till the end of their lives.