Knox County shelter reports intakes, returns and a small number of euthanasias in May–June

A Knox County shelter representative presented monthly reports for May and June 2025 at the commissioners’ meeting on July 17, detailing intakes, outcomes and enforcement actions.

For May the shelter reported 27 intakes: 16 owner surrenders, 9 strays and 2 seized or custody dogs. The month produced 19 exits: 8 adoptions, 5 euthanasias (two at owners’ requests for aggression or medical reasons, one euthanized after an attack), 4 returns to owners and 2 transfers to rescue partners. The speaker said some euthanasias were performed for aggression or medical necessity.

June figures showed 29 intakes: 6 owner surrenders, 18 strays and 5 seized/custody dogs, and 30 exits: 7 adoptions, 2 euthanasias (one owner-requested for aggression) and 21 returns to owners. As of July 16 the shelter had 22 dogs on site (19 available for adoption; 1 held as evidence for a neglect case; 1 adopted awaiting pickup; 1 pending rescue transfer) and nine dogs on the adoption floor for longer than 60 days.

The shelter also reported enforcement activity: 19 citations in May and 20 citations in June issued by deputies and shelter staff for failures to license, failure to confine, cruelty and related violations; the speaker named deputies who issued specific citations but did not request further action from the commission.

Commissioners asked whether most strays are reunited with owners; the presenter said a majority are returned but a small handful go unclaimed and are placed for adoption. The presentation closed with informal remarks and commissioners thanked the shelter staff.