The Humane Society of Dickson County relies heavily on volunteers and fund-raisers for its shelter upkeep. Please join us
in caring for our county's animals --
foster a pet,
volunteer or
become a member today!
Tennessee is among 22 states trying to reduce dog and cat overpopulation through the sale of
"Animal Friendly" license plates. When drivers purchase the special "Animal Friendly"
license plates for their cars, Tennessee sets aside a portion of the proceeds
for spay/neuter funds. The Humane Society of Dickson County benefits from plates sold to area
residents, and passes the savings on to low income families wishing to adopt a pet. To
qualify for the free/low-cost spay/neuter program, adopting parties need only show proof of some
form of government assistance (food stamps, social security check, etc.). Why should you spay/neuter your pet?
HSDC's adoption fees vary by the adopting party's county of residence.
In addition to helping our shelter to serve thousands of animals each year,
the adoption fee covers mandatory spay/neuter services for the pet,
distemper/parvo shots, deworming and other health services as required.
If you have any questions about these fees, please contact the shelter at 615-446-PETS (7387).
Open Door Shelter
Nearly every community has some type of shelter system for unwanted, abandoned, stray and abused animals.
There are basically two types of animal shelters: "Open Door Shelters" and "Limited Intake/No Kill" shelters.
The "Limited Intake/No Kill" shelters don't euthanize animals, except in the case of illness. They can afford this
luxury because of their limited intake or closed-door policy. It is simple: when they become full, they stop
accepting animals until they adopt out enough animals to generate more room. Conversely, "Open Door Shelters"
accept all animals and must therefore, at times, euthanize on the basis of adoptability to create room for
incoming animals.
"Limited Intake/No Kill" can play a role in helping homeless companion animals find responsible, lifelong homes. However, since these shelters are limited in the number of animals they can accept and care for, we feel strongly that there needs to be an animal shelter whose doors are open to all homeless animals in every community. Too often, stray animals suffer from starvation, disease, poisoning, abuse, injuries from traffic accidents, attacks by wildlife, and severe weather. If not spayed or neutered, they bring more innocent animals into their world of suffering.
As an "Open Door" facility, HSDC takes in ALL the homeless, abused, and abandoned pets in Dickson County --
we don't turn any animal away. Our primary mission is to adopt these animals to loving homes that will provide
adequate care so that the animals do not wind up back in the system. Due to the tremendous volume of animals we
receive, however, we are sometimes unable to secure homes for all of them. Thus, we are a euthanasia shelter
(kill shelter), which means that when we run out of capacity for the volume of homeless and abandoned animals
brought to our door, our shelter staff must undertake the heart wrenching task of selecting the "least adoptable"
animals and then put them to sleep (euthanize them) to make adequate room. This is the most painful aspect of
our jobs -- no humane society wants to euthanize any animal (unless it is for humane reasons to relieve the
suffering of a mortally wounded or sick pet), but this is the reality for Dickson County. Please spay and
neuter your pets to help us reduce the pet overpopulation problem and put an end to the euthanasia of healthy animals!
Adoption Forms
Please click on the link below to access HSDC's adoption forms online in Adobe PDF format:
Community Outreach
- Pet-Assisted Therapy Programs - Pet therapy provides a source of hope and pleasure for people of all ages facing difficult times in convalescent homes, hospitals, mental health centers, abused children's homes and juvenile detention centers. HSDC volunteers bring canine and feline warmth to people who aren't able to experience the joys of pet ownership.
- Community Education - HSDC staff frequently teach adults and children about responsible pet ownership and humane treatment for all living creatures. HSDC staff and volunteers visit local schools, civic groups and other community organizations to educate about responsible treatment of animals and the mission of HSDC.
- Stopping Animal Cruelty - HSDC works with the Dickson police force to assist in animal cruelty investigations and prosecution.
- Shelter Tours - Many organizations, such as local schools and scouts, tour the HSDC facility to learn about responsible pet care, animal behavior and safety, and what to consider when choosing a pet.
Shelter Staff:
- Renee Singleton, Executive Director
- Arlice Barker, Shelter Manager
- Esther Daughterty
- Jan Hutton
- Carlisa Maddin
- Jodie Spencer
Board of Directors:
- Ben Regen, President
- Jackie Hale, Vice President
- Melissa Lee, Treasurer
- Cathy Green
- Terrie Tummins
- Susan Swope
- Shawn Alfonsetti
- Emily Roth
- Brenda Lane
- Nicole Backlin
- Lori Tobin
Humane Society of Dickson County
Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CLOSED SUNDAY, MONDAY & TUESDAY
410 Eno Road
Dickson, TN 37055
(Click here for directions to the shelter)
Phone: 615-446-PETS (7387)
FAX: 615-446-7455
E-mail: hsdcdx1@aol.com
Webmaster: channing@copyshark.com
Fees for Dickson and Hickman County Adoptions (Tennessee)