In 2008 a small group of animal lovers met and started a group to be named Safe Haven Animal Rescue Program (SHARP). These animal lovers personally saw the effects of a rural county with no animal shelters. Polk County is in the far South-eastern corner of Tennessee. It is a very rural county with most of its 442 sq. miles belonging to the Cherokee National Forest. Unfortunately, the beauty of the mountains and forest has drawn people to drop family pets off to survive on their own.
SHARP’s dedicated members knew becoming a 501-3-c would help with fund raising and achieve long term goals. With our new status achieved, SHARP put together a new mission statement and strategic plan to guide the group forward.
Our group consists of hard working everyday people with the passion to give time and love to every dog taken in. Currently we use a foster based program to house our dogs. Each dog taken in is given all shots, heartworm checked and spayed or neutered before being offered for adoption. SHARP dogs are kept with their foster parent and treated like a member of their own family. The foster based system allows us to give great detail to potential families about each dog’s characteristics and needs. Of course the tears flow when it is time to hand a dog over to a new family, but the tears are always followed up with a smile knowing one more dog has a forever home.
In 2012 over 80 dogs from Polk County were adopted to a new forever home through SHARP. We know every year the number of dogs needing help is growing. Each dog relies not only on their new foster mom for encouragement and love, but donations from every source possible.
Please consider joining our group in any capacity or making a donation today.
Mission Statement:
The mission of SHARP, a 501(c) 3, is to provide assistance to dogs and cats in need and promote spay/neuter surgeries in Polk County, TN.
Create an alert, and we'll notify you every time a new pet comes in who meets your criteria.
Create an alert, and we'll notify you every time a new pet comes in who meets your criteria.
Why you should adopt a SHARP dog
Safe Haven Animal Rescue Program (SHARP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned dogs in Tennessee. By working with committed volunteers, foster homes and local veterinarians, we are able to rescue hundreds of animals every year, provide them with loving temporary care, and find them well-matched, carefully screened forever homes.
Polk County Tennessee is a rural county with no animal shelter to house lost and abandoned dogs. All dogs taken in receive a medical evaluation, updated shots, heartworm check and are spay/neutered. Our dogs are placed into a temporary foster home, where they are treated like a member of the family. Our foster process allows us to understand the needs and personality of every dog so we can match them to a forever home.
By adopting a SHARP dog, you don’t only gain a new family member, but your tax deductible contributions will help the next dog in dire need of help and a home.
Additional adoption info
Sharp Adoption Process
What do I get by adopting a SHARP dog?
All SHARP dogs have been evaluated by our foster team to give potential adopters an understanding of their personality and needs. Each dog will be either spayed or neutered before leaving our care. SHARP dogs will also be up to date on shots, heartworm tested and on preventative and micro -chipped. Our dogs will also be on a worming plan, along with flea and tick preventative. SHARP has started the process of giving our dogs a new chance for a forever home, they just need you to give them love and the opportunity to become a valued member of your family.
How do you adopt a SHARP dog?
1. Fill out an Adoption Questionnaire found on www.sharprescue.org
2. A SHARP representative will contact you to review the form.
3. If applicable, we'll call your veterinarian to ask for references.
4. Adopter will be responsible for all transportation fees. We have local transport companies we can help set up reservations with.
5. There are a select few states we can not ship dogs to due to state regulations . This includes Maine, New Hampshire ,Connecticut and Massachusetts.
790 Harris Beamer Road Southwest,
Calhoun,
GA
30701
Dalton, GA 30720
401 Old Whitestone Road West,
Talking Rock,
GA
30175
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