#45 in United States, #3 in Tennessee, #1 in Chattanooga
4500 North Access Road Chattanooga, TN 37415
https://mckameyanimalcenter.org/
Service areas:
The cities of Chattanooga, Red Bank and Lakesite.
"Adopted our precious Ringo, a husky, cattle dog mix with beautiful heterochromia. Mcamey we're great with meet and greets with our other dog, both in yard and meet and greet room to make sure our two dogs would get along, and Ringo has brought new life to our home"
— jonathan m.
Adoptee
"We adopted our dog, Briggs last January from McKamey. The staff & the environment are so welcoming and friendly. They made the process simple. When we left, Briggs had been updated on all his vaccinations, he had been neutered and microchipped. He has been such a welcome addition to our family of rescue pets. I am so very thankful for the work McKamey does to ensure animals are not on the street, but cared for by an amazing and caring staff & volunteer team. I cannot imagine my life without Briggs or our community without MAC,"
— lisa s.
Adoptee
"My son has adopted 2 cats from this shelter. They are wonderful!"
— beth m.
Supporter
"They go above and beyond to help all the animals in their care ❤️"
— jo b.
Fan
"We have 3 furr babies ( one dog two cats from Mckamey). The staff is amazing at taking care of the animals. The environment is clean and extremely warm and welcoming for dogs and animals alike. They do so much to advocate and ensure that animals in the Chattanooga area are loved and taken care of. They try to keep animals in their home environment by providing food and resources when needed. The community benefits from their spay/neuter and vaccine clinics. We love their outreach programs that include the paw pool party and the paw palooza. For the past year we have been volunteering at McKamey and have gained even more appreciation of the staff and dedicated volunteers that dedicate their time and energy to loving cats and dogs until they find their forever home."
— bertie s.
Adoptee, Volunteer / foster
"My wife & I have adopted 2 pups from McKamey over the past two years! Our 1st was in 2022 and because the experience was so wonderful we returned for our latest pup adoption in 2024! Both pups are simply amazing! The care & treatment they recieved at McKamey's is exemplified in both our pups! Facility & staff are 5 stars 💯!"
— leonard.
Adoptee
"We adopted Kracken now known as Tonka, just after losing my sons Boxer/Old English Bulldog mix to cancer. We were absolutely heart broken and our other dog was lost without her buddy. I saw Kraken on Mckamey's websit and immediately knew we needed to get him. A few days later we visited the shelter and the staff was great. They warned me he was a jumper and had tons of energy, but we used to that already! Within 5 minutes of meeting Tonka I knew he was coming home to his forever home with us. We had a few issues since one of my boys is Autistic but we worked through those and now they are best friends. Tonka is just a normal high energy dog that loves to run and play. He also the typical big dog that doesn't know he's big and has no clue what personal space is! I'm so glad we found our perfect fit at McKamey!"
— jenifer a.
Adoptee
"My little Hela has truly been a best friend and overflowing fountain of Joy! I met her while she was in foster care fighting for her life and Now I am a foster. She changes our lives every day!"
— cindy s.
Volunteer / foster
"The people at McKamey were very helpful and friendly during the adoption process. The process itself was easy"
— brian l.
Adoptee
"I have volunteered at MAC for almost 8 years. The staff & volunteers care so much about the animals and go above and beyond to give them love and attention until they find their forever homes. McKamey does so much for the community - TNR programs, reduced cost vaccine/spay/neuter for pets, food pantry, assists domestic violence victims with a place to house their animals temporarily, and whatever they can to help owners keep their pets."
— melanie c.
Volunteer / foster
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?
You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dogs have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being "dangerous breeds." Rottweilers are among them. Like pit bulls and other large, blocky-headed types of dogs, these powerful and beautiful animals are often assumed to be aggressive.
Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
Does your dog display reactivity to other pets or people? Maybe they’re a new rescue pup and are still settling into your home. Or they were sick growing up, so you missed their critical socialization period. Possibly they’ve had a bad experience after being raised as a normal puppy.
Do you have a reactive dog or suspect you may have one? You’re not alone!
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
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Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
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Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.
Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection, and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.
Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs. As one of the most popular types of retrievers, Labs are ideal companions for various lifestyles and are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as an excellent breed for families.
Discover the Golden Retriever, a popular breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game beginning in the 1860s. Today, they're recognized by the Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club (AKC) as one of the most beloved companion dog breeds.
Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a distinct breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Often confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a separate breed of British origin, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff) is considered a medium-sized dog. While both breeds share some similarities, the AmStaff is generally larger and has been developed as a distinct breed in the United States.
Discover the Australian Shepherd, an AKC breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd is actually a native breed to the United States, originally developed to breed on farms and ranches. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were bred for herding beginning in the 1950s. As one of the high-energy breeds, Aussies are known for their boundless energy and need for regular exercise, including aerobic exercise.