Local community pet guide released

A free resource guide for pet owners in nine East Tennessee counties has been released.

“Four Paws: Handbook for a Pet-Friendly Community” is full of ideas, tips and tricks, and local initiatives to keep pets happy and healthy, a press release said.

A responsible pet-owning community can help decrease euthanasia rates by spaying and neutering pets, decreasing the number of animals surrendered to shelters, and reuniting more lost pets and their owners through the use of microchips and identification tags, the release said.

“Pets are an important part of our families here in Knox County and across East Tennessee, and I hope the ‘Four Paws’ handbook is helpful to pet owners and people who are thinking about bringing home a new pet,” Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said.

“Four Paws” also gives tips on introducing a new pet to the house, for renting pet-friendly apartments, advice on boarding your pet during a vacation, and instructions on keeping your pet healthy.

“Pet owners across the city of Knoxville and East Tennessee communities are already committed to responsibly caring for their pets,” Knoxville mayor Madeline Rogero said. “But there are still problems we need to tackle as a community to better care for companion animals.”

The “Four Paws” handbook is sponsored by Young-Williams Animal Center, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee, Knoxville Veterinary Medical Association and the Most Pet-Friendly Community Initiative.

Free copies of the handbook can be found around East Tennessee, including the Young-Williams Animal Center. A free, interactive PDF of the handbook is also available for download on the partner websites: www.young-williams.org, www.vet.utk.edu, www.KnoxVet.org and www.mostpetfriendlycommunity.com.

Questions and comments can be shared on the Young-Williams Animal Center Facebook page at www.facebook.com/knoxpets.

Young-Williams Animal Center is located at 3201 Division Street in Knoxville.