About Us
Here is our story: For many years, the founding members of ETAA worked as individuals rescuing stray and abandoned dogs and cats from the streets of Chattanooga. We worked hard individually to help these animals find refuge and safety in forever homes. We also volunteered many hours helping to improve the lives of the animals that landed in shelters. Alas, we realized there is strength in numbers, and we formed what is now known as East Tennessee Alliance for Animals.
East Tennessee Alliance for Animals is a small not for profit organization. We received our 501(c)(3) status is April of 2010. Our mission is to help educate our community regarding the importance of spay and neuter thereby eliminating the overpopulation of these pets.
ETAA members and volunteers use every opportunity possible to execute our mission and drive home just how important spay and neuter are to help decrease the euthanasia rates in our local shelters. Whether we are in a conversation with someone reaching out for help with a pet or a potential adopter, we see this interaction as a chance to educate and hopefully help to eliminate pet overpopulation.
Another aspect of ETAA is serving as a “stop-gap” to shelters. If a pet owner is faced with surrendering a pet due to death, divorce, loss of income or any life changing circumstance that forces pet surrender, we either assist the owner in re-homing the pet or help with resources on a short term basis so the pet may stay with the family.
ETAA reaches far and wide in re-homing a pet. We work closely with many reputable rescue groups to facilitate a safe and successful re-homing of any animal. All ETAA animals are fully vetted and spayed or neutered before leaving our charge. Our dogs are placed on multiple “safe” websites; i.e. Adopt-a-pet or Petfinder. Potential adopters are interviewed via a phone screening. An adoption application is completed, a vet reference check is done and finally a home visit takes place. The home visit will be done by a board member or a volunteer to assure the environment is one that is conducive to a happy and healthy dog. ETAA requires all of our dogs to be “inside dogs with outside priveleges”. We believe a dog should be included as part of the family.
ETAA reserves the right to re-claim a dog if the adopter does not honor the stipulations in the adoption contract.