Welcome to Knox County Animal Control
Mission Statement: The purpose of the Knox County Animal Control Division is to provide essential animal control to the residents of Knox County through the enforcement of domestic animal-related codes as stated in the Tennessee Code and the Knox County Code; licensing and permitting of domestic animals; providing safety and educational programs; resolution of domestic animal-related problems by education, referral
to other resources, or advice; and providing emergency services.
News: Knox County Animal Control Wins 2006 National Animal Control Association Award
The National Animal Control Association has awarded Knox County is Animal Control the 2006 NACA Outstanding Agency Award. The county is nomination was considered along with other agencies from across the United States and was selected as the agency that met the highest standards for an animal control agency. Selection criterion for the award included effective training programs for personnel, outstanding/innovative public education programs, active community involvement, and average officer response time to calls for assistance. Dave Head, Director, Knox County Animal Control accepted the award at NACA's annual conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Knox County Animal Control programs include:
Bark Collar Program: This program has helped Animal Control officers with neighborhood barking that was not being solved. The program started in January 2005 as pilot program with a Knoxville based company PetSafe. The program is now being used throughout the United States because of the results of decreased barking complaints by 80 percent.
Neighborhood Meetings: Officers attend neighborhood meetings in their work zones to address neighborhood concerns about animal control.
Educational Programs: Officers present education programs at Knox County is senior centers to help seniors with their animals and promote animal welfare.
School Programs: Officers teach children in pre-K, first, second, and third grades how to take care of their own animals and the proper treatment and handling.
D.A.R.T. (Disaster Animal Response Team): Officers respond to natural or man-made disasters to deal with animals. All officers are ESF certified.
Teaching Other Animal Control Agencies (Cruelty Investigations): Officers teach other agencies how to process warrants and arrests and confiscate animals.
In-service Training Classes for Shelter Personnel: Teaches personnel to handle animals that are aggressive and feral.
Chemical Capture of Animals: All officers are trained in chemical capture to help the Knoxville City Animal Control and other agencies to tranquilize animals.
Domestic Violence Task Force (Animal Welfare): Officers transport animals and help with situations to remove animals when police are on the scene. Officers work with the HAVEN program through the University of Tennessee to see that the animals are not abused or hurt again.