About Us

Friends of Cookeville/Putnam Co. Animals is a 501c3 non-profit entity. Founded in 2004, our objective is to raise public awareness in tending to lost and homeless animals within the community, as well as educate citizens on the importance of spay/neuter programs.

Below is a brief description of some of the ways the FRIENDS group is making a difference in helping animals. You can help too by joining our group or making a donation! Without our FRIENDS members, none of this would be possible.

January 2010 - Our 4th Annual Fur Ball was held on January 23, 2010 at the Leslie Towne Center in Cookeville, TN. It was another sellout event. We made a major announcement regarding the new PET Care Campus.

October 2009 - Our 6th annual Bark In The Park was held Oct. 10, 2009 at the Algood City Park. Even with the not-so-desirable weather conditions, we had over 4,000 people & their dogs attend this event.

June 2009 - Art Show & Sale 09, “The Best Is Yet To Come” featured the artwork of legendary Tony Bennett and 31 incredible artists from New York, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Tennessee! Guests enjoyed an elegant Preview Patron Party on June 6th, in addition to the Show on June 7th. Proceeds benefit planning of the new P.E.T. Care Campus.

April 2009 - We continue to cover costs of Bordetella vaccines for the animals at the Animal Shelter. We also purchase and create photo id tags to be used by the staff and volunteers at the Shelter.

Planning begins for the 4th annual Art Show & Sale to be held on June 6th & 7th, 2009 at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Williams. Entitled, “The Best Is Yet To Come,” the show will feature the watercolor paintings of music legend, Tony Bennett! Patron party will be on Saturday, and Show on Sunday!

March 2009 - Participated once again in Putnam County Home Show with a booth promoting spay/neuter and Animal Shelter adoptions.

Friends group created a Facebook page to promote our group. Please join us on Facebook to keep updated.

February 2009 - Donated $500 to AARF to help with cat and kitten adoptions from our Shelter.

January 2009 - The 3rd annual FUR BALL takes place on January 24th. Themed “Come to the Catbaret at the Meowlin Rouge,” this event was sold out almost before the invitations arrived! Almost 300 guests and volunteers enjoyed fabulous dinner and dancing to the Nashville Blue Tone Orchestra! Live auctions and silent auctions created additional fundraising opportunities to put towards the dream of a new “Pet Care Campus

December 2008 - Together with Girl Scout Troup 703, we coordinate the third successful ANGEL TREE held at Kroger supermarket and generating lots of needed donations for the Shelter.

We create the Animal Shelter Christmas photo card and mail to several hundred supporters and businesses.

November 2008 - We purchase Bordetella (kennel cough)vaccines ($1,500 for 3-month supply) for the Animal Shelter as this is not in their annual budget and much needed to maintain the health and adoptability of the Shelter animals.

October 2008 - Our fifth annual "Bark In The Park" is held on Saturday, October 25 at Algood City Park! Over 5,000 people and their pets attended this fun pet playday and participated in contests, games, testing pet agility, chasing lures and having fun meeting other pet and pet owners. "Walk For The Animals" a new event was added and was totally successful with over 230 registered pets and owners walking a parade route through Algood to raise pet awareness and funding for the planning and development of the unique "Pet Care Campus" to be created in Putnam County.

August 2008 - Working with the Animal Shelter and Golden Hugs Rescue Group from New England, we inaugurate a dog-fostering program where adoptable dogs are paired with local foster families until the Rescue Group is able to find permanent homes for them. This will give many more dogs a chance of being adopted!

We help the Animal Shelter by writing, editing, mailing (circa 1,200) and helping to cover costs of PAWPRINTS, the Animal Shelter newsletter for Fall 2008.

May 2008: - Our Friends group partners with all branches of the Putnam County Library system to promote Amnesty Week (May 10 – 17th) whereby library fees are forgiven with the donation of items for the Animal Shelter. Friends assist with collecting and delivering to the shelter.

Planning for BARK IN THE PARK begins! Event to be held on Saturday, October 25th, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Algood City Park. This year a new event is added! A “Walk for Animals” will be held beginning at 10:15 a.m. from Algood Park and ending at 11 a.m. at Algood Park just as the gates open for the event!

April 2008 - We promote the importance of spaying/neutering pets by placing a coupon available in the 11,000 TTU Campus Coupon booklets, good for $5 off spay/neuter at the Clinic. In addition, we assist the Humane Society Spay/Neuter Clinic by paying for the mailing of 1,200 “Beat The Heat” flyers in our rural community promoting spay/neuter.

We begin writing and sponsoring the Kid's Corner and Pet Pages that will appear bi-monthly in the Herald-Citizen Sunday edition newspaper (our local newspaper).

We continue with promoting aluminum can recycling to benefit the Animal Shelter's Spay/Neuter Assistance Program, and we continue with promoting Animal Shetler pet adoptions through the Sunday weekly "Adorable Ads" sponsored by local businesses.

March 2008 - We become part of Tennessee Tech University’s new Service Learning program. Tech students may volunteer with us to learn about the pet overpopulation problem facing our community and how a non-profit entity works to make a difference.

February 2008 - Presented the Humane Society of Putnam County with a check for $10,000 to purchase additional surgical equipment and hire additional veterinary support for their Spay/Neuter Clinic.

January 2008 - Fabulous Fur Ball returned to Leslie Town Centre with the "Hooray for Hollywoof" theme. Lots of wonderful sponsors, donors and volunteers as well as 250 guests enjoyed the formal evening with a seated dinner, live and silent auctions, and dancing the night away to the Nashville Blue Tones. Proceeds of $21,715 were donated to the Animal Shelter to help fund the cat and kitten rooms to be included in its renovation.

October 2007 - Our biggest Bark in the Park yet wtih over 3,000 people and their dogs attending! $1,500 in proceeds was donated toward the Puppy Room at the renovated Shelter.

June 2007 - The Pets of Putnam County Art Show & Sale was well received. Tom & Virginia Aders were our gracious hosts. Thanks to 28 talented artists, our dedicated volunteers, Friends members and guests, and local sponsors, we donated $12,000 to fund the Adoption Room in the new addition to the Animal Shelter to be completed by the summer of 2008.

January 2007 - The first Annual Fur Ball was a popular event with a formal sit-down dinner, an evening of dancing to the fantastic Nashville Blue Tones Orchestra, a silent auction and a live auction. Proceeds from the event will be used in our community-wide education program focused on the importance of spaying/neutering our pets.

October 7, 2006 - Bark In The Park was a great day for the pets of Putnam County as over 2,200 pet owners brought their pets to Algood City Park to enjoy a beautiful day and an event especially made for dogs! See photos on the Events page.

September 06 - Donated & installed a new sign at the entrance to the Shelter.

June 2006 - The “Pets of Putnam County” Art Show & Sale, held on June 4th, was a huge success! Thanks to the Copeland family who hosted this event at their beautiful home, talented artists, community volunteers, Friends members and local businesses, we were able to donate $10,000 in proceeds to the Animal Shelter which will be used in a variety of ways!

Spring 2006 - Established the The SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program) aluminum can recycling program with local companies who contribute by allowing recycle containers in their businesses.

February 2006 - Established the SAM Fund (Shelter Animals Medical Fund) as an opportunity to increase the possibility of making some of their animals more adoptable & affordable. The fund will benefit the shelter's animals by providing supplementary funds for minor medical treatment, food, supplies, and grooming.

October 15, 2005 - Bark In The Park 2005, Algood City Park
More than 1,000 people showed up for a fun day with their dogs. See Event Page for more info!

August - December 2005 - Assisted Shelter with printing of brochures. Donated to the ASPCA & HSUS Hurricane Relief Fund. Painted interior entry of Shelter. Launched Adoption Ad Campaign in local newspaper. Installation of new floor at Shelter. Shelter staff photo taken for Holiday greeting card & Holiday lights at Shelter.

August 2005 - The Friends group presented our new Shelter Director, Laurie Green, with a sizable donation check to enable the purchase of several things that will help make life a bit more comfortable for the animals at the Shelter. In addition to helping the Shelter with supplemental needs, we are preparing to paint & repair the Shelter entry and spruce up the Memorial Garden to make the Shelter a more attractive & user-friendly venue.

July – October 2005 - The "Pets of Putnam County" Photo Exhibit which premiered at the Art Show, toured various locations in Putnam County. The exhibit is a collection of humorous and heart-warming photos of recognizable Putnam County people and their pets they love photographed by Putnam County photographer, Amy Callahan.

June 2005 - "Pets of Putnam County" Art Show & Sale was a popular and successful fundraising event for our group. Lots of participation from people in the community, sponsors and talented artists! This event raised money which will be used to assist the Shelter and implement our goals of public awareness, education, adoption and spay/neuter programs. ALSO Launched our very own website!

May 2005 - We established a good working relationship with City/County executives in working to rewrite new adoption policies and rules that meet with the highest standards for both the animals and the adopting public.

December 2004 - FRIENDS members decorated the Cookeville/Putnam County Animal Shelter for the holidays with colorful lights all around the perimeter of the site, as well as decorating the Animal Shelter lobby. We also photographed a holiday greeting card with the Shelter staff and many of the puppies and kittens. These cards were sent to community businesses to raise awareness and remind people to adopt.

October 2004 - The first annual Bark In The Park, organized in October 2004, proved to be very successful! Held in Algood City Park, Algood, Tennessee (in Putnam County), this high visibility, free event raised awareness and income from donations, silent auction items, and fees for agility & lure courses. Over 500 people and their pets attended this event.