One of those good causes is the Sullivan County/Bluff City/Kingsport Animal Control Center, and its most pressing need, according to manager Donna Davidson, is food for both cats and dogs.
“It’s been awhile since we actually had a major food drive, so (food) is dwindling down at both shelters,” Davidson said.
The SBK center manages animal control throughout the county and the cities of Kingsport and Bluff City. Currently, each shelter has approximately 50 to 55 dogs and 60 to 65 cats, with both facilities using 200 to 250 pounds of dry food each day.
Virtually all of this food is donated, Davidson said. The center mainly wants dry food, but it will accept canned food, which is used when providing medicine to the animals or for the older dogs.
“We’ll take whatever we can get. We’re not that picky,” she said.
SBK accepts pet food donations year round and the center does have some regular donors throughout the year. A few businesses also make it a point to donate food, including Tractor Supply and Food City, especially when the grocery chain has open or torn bags of cat or dog food.
Around the holidays, Davidson said SBK usually does better with donations than during other times of the year. People tend to be more in a giving mood around Christmas, she said.
“There’s a lot going on right now with the economy and people’s jobs. I hope things will change now that the election is over and people can get back into it,” Davidson said.
SBK has shelter locations in Kingsport and Blountville. The Kingsport location is 2141 Idle Hour Road, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The phone number is (423) 247-1671.
The Blountville location is 380 Massengil Road, open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The phone number is (423) 279-2741.
