Our History

The Knox County Humane Society was chartered in August, 1885. The founding members were Peter Kern, L.C. Shephard, H.H. Taylor, M.T. Davis, John M. Brooks and R.N. Hood. In 1996, the name was changed to The Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley to better reflect the geographic area the organization serves.

For more than fifty years, the Society operated the only animal shelter in Knox County, taking in as many as 17,000 animals annually. Under contractual agreements with the City of Knoxville and Knox County, HSTV provided housing for animals brought in by city and county animal control officers as well as those brought to the shelter by the general public.

However, on December 31, 2000, the Society canceled animal housing contracts with the city and county to focus all resources on adoption, education and spay/neuter.

On January 1, 2002, the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley became a "No Kill" organization. The term "no kill" means that no puppy, kitten, dog or cat in our care will be euthanized simply because there is insufficient space to house them.

How To Help

There are many ways every person willing can help the Humane Society. Below lists many different opportunities. Click on the one you are interested in and find out how you can help the animals.

Become a Volunteer

HSTV offers a variety of volunteer opportunities from hands-on work with the animals ( including providing in-home foster care) to helping with fund raising and educational events.
Find out how to volunteer.

Donate Money

We receive no local, state or federal tax monies and no operating funds from any state or national humane organization. All of our programs and services are supported solely through private donations like yours.

Adopt-A-Pet

When you adopt a pet from HSTV or any reputable animal welfare organization, you are saving a life. You are not encouraging the indiscriminate breeding of dogs and cats for whom there are simply not enough homes by buying an animal.
See our adoptable animals now.