Staff Writer

HARROGATE -- San-Chris Animal Sanctuary is hosting a pet adopt-a-thon at LMU's Vet Tech Center on Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The group holds a promotion for pet adoption on the second Saturday of each month at LMU.

The current adoption fee is $30, but that is expected to increase soon to help offset the high costs of taking care of the shelter animals. All animals that are available for adoption have been spayed or neutered and are up to date on all their immunizations. Adoptions also require signing an adoption agreement.

There is currently no county funded animal shelter in Claiborne County. San-Chris is a privately owned and ran shelter that has been in existence in the county for about 25 years. San-Chris is working closely with the Claiborne County Animal Control Board in their efforts to establish a county shelter.

"There are many animals up there-both dogs and cats-who need homes," said Mary Lou Miklosovic, a San-Chris volunteer.

Miklosovic urges those who have unwanted pets or encounter a stray animal to find a home or a shelter to place them in.

"It is a felony to abandon an animal," Miklosovic said.

Currently, the Animal Control Board works on obtaining funds through grants and fundraisers to provide money for a spay/neuter program for low income families in the area.

In conjunction with the Animal Control Board, several of the pets available through San-Chris are posted on www.petfinder.com. To find out more information about the available, use the Tazewell zip code 37879 when you perform a pet search on Petfinder. You can also visit the Adopt-a-Thon and meet several of the pets in person at the LMU Vet Tech Center in Harrogate.

For more information on the programs available in Claiborne County and how you can help, contact the Animal Control Board at or visit their website at www.clanimals.org.