PAWS of Dale Hollow

The goals of Paws of Dale Hollow is to rescue, vet, foster and adopt out every stray, abused and discarded domestic animal currently in need in the area of Pickett County, TN and surrounding counties. That goal, while unrealistic, is a target for which to aim. It is truly the “Impossible Dream" but a dream that becomes a little more real each time an animal is adopted by a loving family through the efforts of our team. With an active animal spay/neuter program coupled with education of the public on the care and treatment of family pets Paws of Dale Hollow is effective in further reducing animal distress.

A Business Plan has been drafted and put in place. Such a plan is a guide for the future conduct of business yet is not so inflexible that amendments cannot be made should conditions change. Our Business Plan covering the past five years and projecting the ensuing five year has been completed and is available for review.

We are currently negotiating for the purchase of 2-1/2 acres and large horse barn that can be remodeled into a foster facility for 30-50+ animals. This is a 5 to 10 year project that will entail remodeling of the barn to meet USDA standards for housing stray dogs. This property has been appraised at $106,000 and we are hopeful of purchasing it for $50,000. The remodeling will probably cost up to $100,000 over the next 5-10 years. Any grant or low interest loans will be of great help in meeting these needs.

Paws of Dale Hollow hopes to continue experiencing an annual increase in the number of animals successfully rescued and adopted out. This is the most accurate gauge for measuring the effectiveness of a rescue organization. PDH has launched a program to seek funding for the acquisition of real estate that is strategically located and will lend itself to the caring and training of needy animals. Such a project increases the amount of foster space available and will allow more animals to be accepted for care.

Initial meeting with the local USDA office have been completed and once the property is legally transferred to PAWS of Dale Hollow a series of meetings will take place to search for funding; both grants and loans from the USDA and the private sector.

Paws of Dale Hollow enjoys a staff of unpaid volunteers with diverse backgrounds who are caring, eager, willing, available and qualified. We are a 12 year old organization that has experienced the growing pains of a new company, made mistakes, learned from those mistakes and gained the confidence that all successful organizations must have. We have attained a favorable reputation in the community as well as a position of financial strength.

Personnel, all non-paid volunteers, currently on staff have experience in dealing with state and federal agencies, managing businesses and offices and are fully capable of making the purchase of property and it's remodeling that will meet the our needs and the requirements of all state and federal requirements.

Paws of Dale Hollow has established itself as a community leader and is contributing to the local economy with its purchases of dog food, grooming, foster supplies, etc. The population of strays has changed from a community experiencing a dog or two near every business to one where strays are so scarce that one spotted will generate a number of calls from citizens asking for help for the animal. The large rural area of Pickett and surrounding counties still experiences a large number of domestic animals living off the land and promiscuously adding to the stray and feral animal population. Our project of acquiring additional foster space will allow the rescue and care of many more animals for sterilization and eventual adoption. To our credit we have rescued over 1600 dogs since our inception and we are proud of it.

While we are working hard to have every dog and cat in the Dale Hollow Lake region sterilized and living in a caring home and have achieved great things we have NOT accomplished this impossible goal. This failure to do so has not, in any way, discouraged even one volunteer over the past 8-9 years.