Oak Ridge Today

Cars for Canines is Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Explore Oak Ridge will host the second annual Cars for Canines event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, at Melton Lake Park. (Photo submitted by Explore Oak Ridge)

Explore Oak Ridge will host the second annual Cars for Canines event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, August 21, at Melton Lake Park.

The event will consist of a car show sponsored by Summer Knights Cruisers, food trucks, live music, vendors, demonstrations, and pet-friendly fun all to benefit the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter and Anderson County Humane Society, a press release said.

This event is free, and everyone is welcome, including your four-legged friends, the press release said.

Car show registration is $20 and begins at 10 am. All classic cars, hot rods, and motorcycles are welcome to enter. Awards will be given to the top 25 vehicles and door prizes will be given during the event for registered vehicles, the release said.

[Read more…]

Council to consider vet services contract, changes to property transfer agreement

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider a contract with a veterinarian at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter and potential changes to the property transfer agreement with TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC during a special meeting this evening (Tuesday, August 20).

The veterinary services contract would be with Matt Jinks of Maryville.

TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC is the company helping to lead the redevelopment of the former American Museum of Science and Energy site, and it is affiliated with the company developing Main Street Oak Ridge at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The changes to the property transfer agreement could include extending the first tax revenue condition by one year and requiring a letter of credit for the community-oriented amenities, according to Council’s meeting agenda.

[Read more…]

Animal adoption fees will be lower on Aug. 18

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Animal adoption fees will be lower at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Saturday, August 18.

The Animal Shelter is participating in the nationwide “Clear the Shelters” pet adoption event that day.

“Reduced adoption fees of $55 will be available all day as staff work to find a forever home for each adoptable animal at the shelter,” a press release said.

Animal shelters all over the U.S. are teaming up as part of the effort to find loving homes for pets in need, the press release said. This is the fourth year for the event. Oak Ridge is one of three animal shelters in East Tennessee to commit to the cause so far this year, the said. [Read more…]

More sick wildlife reported. Contact ORPD if you see a sick animal.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road is pictured above.

 

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter has noticed an increase in the number of reports of sick animals, or animals in distress, and the City of Oak Ridge is asking residents to notify the Oak Ridge Police Department about potentially sick wildlife.

Many of the reports involve raccoons or foxes, but other wildlife can also be affected, the city said in a press release Monday.

“Shelter staff believe these animals could be suffering from a strain of distemper,” the press release said.

“As a safety precaution, it is important that citizens do not attempt to capture wildlife on their own or transport wildlife to the animal shelter for treatment,” the press release said. “This is recommended to avoid possible injury to humans and animals as well as preventing the spread of disease or infection.” [Read more…]

Reminder: Puppy Pool Party is today

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool July 2016

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool is pictured above in July 2016. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Reminder: The City of Oak Ridge is hosting its first-ever Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool today.

The Puppy Pool Party is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. today (Sunday, August 7) at the outdoor pool, which is on Providence Road across from the Oak Ridge High School.

All dogs must be non-aggressive and kept on leashes, a press release said. Pet owners must also have proof of current vaccinations. There is a fee of $3 per dog to participate, or each owner may bring a donation of canned or dry dog food to support the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. [Read more…]

Pool’s final day of season Aug. 6, first-ever Puppy Pool Party on Aug. 7

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool July 2016

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool is pictured above in July 2016. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool will be closing soon for the season, but before it does, the pool will re-open for one final day this season and the city will host its first-ever Puppy Pool Party.

The outdoor pool will close Sunday, July 31, and be closed through the first week of August. The pool will re-open one last time for the season on Saturday, August 6, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

On Sunday, August 7, from 5-7 p.m., the outdoor pool will host its first Puppy Pool Party, a press release said. All dogs must be non-aggressive and kept on leashes. Pet owners must also have proof of current vaccinations. There is a fee of $3 per dog to participate, or each owner may bring a donation of canned or dry dog food to support the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. [Read more…]

ASPCA supports lifesaving transport for animals in 13 counties, including from Oak Ridge

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Go North Animal Transport

Note: This story was updated at 11:17 a.m.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, has awarded a grant of $47,250 to the East Tennessee-based GoNorth Animal Transport Collaborative, an alliance of 13 animal shelters, for transportation to northern shelters with ample space and high adoption demand, a press release said. The grant will be used to reimburse shelters for pre-transport veterinary care that is required by the destination shelters.

“Affordable, easily-accessible spay/neuter programs are the solution to ending pet overpopulation,” said GoNorth project coordinator Carmen Trammell. “However, it will take ‘time on task’ to do enough spaying and neutering to dramatically reduce the birth rate. In the meantime, northern transport saves the lives of shelter animals in oversupply.”

Counties participating in the GoNorth project include Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Hamblen, Hamilton, Jefferson, Loudon, Monroe, Sevier, and Union. The primary destinations are the Michigan, Toledo, and Wisconsin Humane Societies.

Currently, the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is the only shelter participating in Anderson County. A complete list can be found here.

[Read more…]

Animal Shelter has viewing party Saturday for Nat Geo WILD ‘Unlikely Animal Friends’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Batman and Pumpkin

Batman, a Dumbo rat, left, and Pumpkin, a FIV-positive cat, two mascots at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, will be featured on National Geographic (Nat Geo) WILD’s “Unlikely Animal Friends” airing 8 p.m. Saturday, May 21. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

Two mascots at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, Pumpkin and Batman, will be featured on National Geographic (Nat Geo) WILD’s “Unlikely Animal Friends,” which airs Saturday, May 21, at 8 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will premiere the show at Pizza Inn, which is located at 1501 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Saturday for the show at 8 p.m.

“Please join the City of Oak Ridge for this event highlighting the community on national television,” a press release said.

For more information about the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, please visit http://animalshelter.oakridgetn.gov/ or call (865) 425-3423.

ORPD to host Junior Police Academy this summer

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy

Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy students at the National Forensics Academy in 2012. (File photo/submitted)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department will host the Junior Police Academy again this summer.

The Fifth Annual Junior Police Academy will be offered to 5th-12th grade students, including private school and home-schooled students. Students interested in learning more about the Oak Ridge Police Department and the criminal justice system are encouraged to apply. The academy is free to all eligible applicants.

The Junior Police Academy will be offered in three phases this year:

  • Phase I: Basic Law Enforcement Awareness—will be held June 20-24 and is for first-year cadets only.
  • Phase II: Intro to Forensic Investigations—will be held June 27-July 1 and is for second-year cadets only.
  • Phase III: Emergency Response and Readiness—will be held July 18-22 and is for third-year cadets only.

[Read more…]

Animal Shelter cat, rat to appear on ‘Unlikely Animal Friends,’ a National Geographic show

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Batman and Pumpkin

Batman, a Dumbo rat, left, and Pumpkin, a FIV-positive cat, two mascots at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, will be featured on National Geographic (Nat Geo) WILD’s “Unlikely Animal Friends” airing 8 p.m. Saturday, May 21. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

A cat and a rat, both mascots at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, will be featured on National Geographic (Nat Geo) WILD’s “Unlikely Animal Friends” airing 8 p.m. Saturday, May 21.

In September 2015, the Nat Geo WILD team spent a full day at the shelter filming, a press release said. Their focus was to show the unlikely friendship between Pumpkin, a FIV-positive cat, and Batman, a Dumbo rat. Aside from showing the friendship between the two animals, the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter hopes to educate the public on FIV-positive cats and promote adopting from local animal shelters.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is located on the east end of town at 395 Belgrade Road, and it currently holds a no-kill status, the press release said.

For more information about the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, visit http://animalshelter.oakridgetn.gov/ or call (865) 425-3423.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Trees down, power outages, flooding reported in Oak Ridge, Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Nebraska-Avenue-Tree-Down-Feb-24-2016

A tree was down on Nebraska Avenue on Wednesday morning, Feb. 24, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:15 p.m.

Officials reported that trees were down across Oak Ridge and Anderson County on Wednesday morning, there were several power outages in Oak Ridge, and flooding was reported at some spots in Anderson County.

The flooding, fallen trees, and power outages were reported after a round of storms came through Wednesday morning.

Crews from the city and county are responding. [Read more…]

New animal holding facility gives AC a place to keep strays, other dogs

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson-County-Animal-Holding-Facility-Ribbon-Cutting-Jan-29-2016

Anderson County officials and volunteers celebrate a new animal holding facility on Blockhouse Valley Road in Claxton that will be used to hold strays and other dogs. Pictured above is a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:20 a.m.

CLAXTON—A new animal holding facility in Anderson County gives the county a place to hold stray dogs and dogs held for other reasons, such as animals rescued or taken away from crashes, drug busts, and drunken driving arrests, officials said Friday.

The new 12-kennel Anderson County Animal Holding Facility is on Blockhouse Valley Road in Claxton, at the Blockhouse Valley Recycling Center.

It helps the county deal with a shortage of space elsewhere, including at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said.

It’s not a shelter yet, but that’s part of the long-term plan. Officials and volunteers said the holding facility is just the first step for them. [Read more…]