Banfield Foundation® awards $27,500 grant to Young-Williams Animal Center for shelter’s spay/neuter efforts and lifesaving work
Young-Williams Animal Center has received $27,500 from national nonprofit Banfield Foundation® in support of the shelter’s lifesaving work for pets in the Knoxville area. The grant will fund free spay/neuter procedures for 500 pets in the East Tennessee area this year.
“With Banfield Foundation’s generous support, we’re able to extend our services and provide much-needed care to more pets in need,” said Janet Testerman, CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center. “This funding will enable us to offer free spay/neuter surgeries for 500 pets, helping to reduce overpopulation and improve the overall health of our community’s animals.
“Ultimately, this grant will have a lasting impact, ensuring more pets receive the care they deserve and have a better chance at finding a forever home.”
Young-Williams Animal Center’s vision is “A Home for Every Pet,” and grants like the one from the Banfield Foundation helped the nonprofit conduct 14,324 spay/neuter surgeries, including 8,966 owned pets, 5,358 shelter pets and 1,336 community cats. Young-Williams Animal Center also assists animal owners in need with programs that include Pets for Life and the Pet Resource Center.
“Banfield Foundation focuses on a variety of initiatives, including funding programs for spay/neuter services, supporting pet adoption, providing financial assistance for veterinary care and partnering with animal welfare organizations to improve the lives of pets,” said Kim Van Syoc, executive director and a founder of the Banfield Foundation. “Through grants and donations, the foundation helps support local shelters like Young-Williams Animal Center that work to reduce pet homelessness and enhance the overall well-being of animals.”
Banfield Foundation is a public charity and charitable arm of Banfield Pet Hospital, one of the largest veterinary practices in the United States. The foundation’s mission is to improve the health and welfare of pets and to help make veterinary care more accessible to underserved communities. In 2023, Banfield Foundation worked with its community of grantees, partners donors and Banfield Associates to break barriers to care through programs and initiatives that served more than 1.4 million vulnerable pets across the country.
“Banfield Foundation has played a crucial role in helping us make a difference in the lives of pets and the people who love them,” Testerman said. “On behalf of the entire Young-Williams Animal Center team, we appreciate the Banfield Foundation’s investment in our animal welfare efforts and its continued support of our shelter.”
The grant is part of an investment to provide preventive care to vulnerable pets and expand access to veterinary care across the country and globally. The foundation has granted over $22 million to help animals in under-resourced communities receive access to veterinary care, shelter and disaster relief.
