How much is spay or neuter surgery at McKamey?

Published prices include $90 for male dog neuter, $110 for female dog spay, $75 for male cat neuter and $85 for female cat spay. Owned-pet surgery requires an appointment.

Mckamey Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026

Q: What are McKamey Animal Center adoption hours in 2026?

McKamey is open for adoptions Tuesday through Friday from 12 PM to 6 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. The Adoption Center is closed Monday.

Q: Where is McKamey Animal Center located?

McKamey Animal Center is located at 4500 North Access Road, Chattanooga, TN 37415.

Q: What is the McKamey Animal Center phone number?

The main phone number is 423-305-6500. Select extension 4 for adoptions, extension 3 for Admissions or lost pets, or option 1 for Animal Protection.

Q: Do I need an appointment to adopt from McKamey?

No appointment is required for normal adoptions. Adopters must be 18 or older, have valid photo ID and complete the adoption application and counseling process.

Q: How much does adopting a dog or cat cost?

Published adoption ranges are $50 to $400 for dogs and puppies and $50 to $200 for cats and kittens. Individual animal fees and promotions may vary.

Q: Can McKamey hold an animal for adoption?

Certain eligible animals may qualify for a 24-hour hold after an in-person meeting. Administrative hold fees apply, and holds cannot be arranged by phone or email.

Q: How do I report animal cruelty or neglect?

For incidents within Chattanooga, Red Bank or Lakesite, call 423-305-6500 and select option 1 for McKamey Animal Protection Services.

Q: Does McKamey provide low-cost vaccinations?

Yes. The vaccine and microchip clinic operates Monday from noon to 4 PM without an appointment. Published fees are generally $20 for each listed vaccine or microchip service.

Q: How do I surrender a pet or report a missing pet?

Contact McKamey Admissions at 423-305-6500 extension 3. Owner surrender requires an appointment and a regular $50 fee. Missing pets can also be searched through McKamey's official lost-and-found resources.

Chattanooga • Red Bank • Lakesite • Tennessee

McKamey Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026

If you are planning to adopt a dog or cat in Chattanooga, report a stray animal, find a missing pet, or contact local animal protection officers, McKamey Animal Center (MAC) is an important place to know.

Located at 4500 North Access Road, Chattanooga, TN 37415, McKamey is a nonprofit animal shelter that also provides contracted animal-protection services for Chattanooga, Red Bank and Lakesite.

Adopting a pet can be exciting. Searching for a missing one can feel overwhelming. This guide separates those situations and gives you the practical details needed to choose the correct next step.

Adoption Hours How to Adopt Animal Control Help

Quick answer: McKamey Animal Center is open for adoptions Tuesday–Friday from noon to 6 PM and Saturday–Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. The Adoption Center is closed Monday. No appointment is required for normal adoptions. Call 423-305-6500 with questions, or visit McKamey’s official adoption page .

Main telephone 423-305-6500

Adoption appointment Not required

Animal Protection Press 1

Admissions Extension 3

McKamey Animal Center Adoption Hours in 2026

McKamey updated its weekend adoption schedule beginning January 3, 2026. Weekend visitors can now start at 11 AM rather than waiting until noon.

Day	Adoption hours	Important information
Monday	Closed	The weekly vaccine/microchip clinic operates separately.
Tuesday	12 PM–6 PM	Walk-in adoptions.
Wednesday	12 PM–6 PM	Walk-in adoptions.
Thursday	12 PM–6 PM	Check eligibility for Thursday adoption specials.
Friday	12 PM–6 PM	Walk-in adoptions.
Saturday	11 AM–5 PM	Updated weekend schedule for 2026.
Sunday	11 AM–5 PM	Updated weekend schedule for 2026.

Do not confuse department hours. McKamey operates different schedules for adoptions, admissions, animal protection, surgery, and the Monday vaccine clinic. Holidays and special events may also affect normal access. Check the current official department hours before making a long trip.

McKamey Dog and Cat Adoption Fees

McKamey does not charge one universal fee for every animal. The official adoption program uses a sliding-scale approach: age, demand, and individual circumstances can affect the amount displayed on each pet’s profile.

Animal	Published adoption fee	Important detail
Dogs and puppies	$50–$400	Exact fee appears on the individual animal listing.
Cats and kittens	$50–$200	Exact fee appears on the individual animal listing.
Senior cats aged 10+	Fee waived	Subject to the current official adoption policy.
Barn/working cats	Fee waived	Check the animal’s suitability and program requirements.
Eligible adult animals Thursday	50% off	Some animals are excluded from the Fursday Thursday promotion.
Second dog/cat adopted same day	50% off second pet	Confirm eligibility with the adoption team.

Included in adoption

What the fee covers

McKamey says adopted dogs and cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, given age-appropriate vaccines and parasite prevention, along with care provided during their shelter stay.

Payment

How to pay

Adoption fees may be paid by cash or credit card. McKamey states that checks are not accepted for adoption fees. Promotional prices may change, so use the individual pet profile as the starting price reference.

How to Adopt a Pet From McKamey Animal Center

You do not need an appointment for a normal adoption visit. Still, a little preparation makes the visit easier and leaves more time to focus on the animal’s personality and whether your home is the right match.

Find an available dog, cat, or small animal

Start at McKamey’s official available-pets page . Read the animal’s age, size, personality notes and listed adoption fee. Select a few possible matches because availability may change before arrival.

Visit during Adoption Center hours

Come Tuesday–Friday between noon and 6 PM, or Saturday–Sunday between 11 AM and 5 PM. Tell the adoption team which animal interests you.

Bring valid photo identification

Adopters must be at least 18 years old and have a valid photo ID. McKamey welcomes qualified adopters who live outside Chattanooga or Tennessee as well.

Meet the animal in person

Staff will discuss temperament, medical information and what they know about the animal’s behavior. Spend time with the pet in a meet-and-greet area before making the decision.

Discuss an existing household pet

If you have another dog or pet at home, meet the prospective adopted animal first. Then ask the adoption team whether a pet-to-pet introduction should be scheduled.

Complete the adoption application

McKamey’s team reviews your application, completes adoption counseling and determines whether the match is suitable.

Prepare transportation and take the pet home

Most eligible pets can leave the same day. Dogs need a leash and collar, with a license tag if applicable; cats need a carrier. You may bring your own supplies or purchase them at the shelter.

Helpful consideration: It is normal to feel attached to a pet’s photo before you meet. Use the actual visit to learn about exercise needs, behavior, compatibility, and the quiet adjustment period a shelter animal may need in a new home.

Adoption Requirements and 24-Hour Holds

Requirements

Who can adopt?

Adopters must be 18 or older.
Valid photo identification is required.
An adoption application must be completed.
Adoption counseling and approval are required.
Residency in Chattanooga is not required.

Hold rules

Can McKamey reserve a pet?

Certain animals may qualify for a 24-hour hold after an in-person meeting. Puppies, kittens and high-demand pets are generally excluded.

For an eligible animal ready to leave, the hold fee is half its regular adoption price or $50, whichever is greater. This administrative fee is non-refundable and is not deducted from the final adoption price.

Holds cannot be placed by phone or email.

McKamey Animal Protection and Control Services

McKamey provides animal-protection services for the incorporated cities of Chattanooga, Red Bank and Lakesite. These field services are separate from the nonprofit shelter’s adoption desk.

Report

Animal cruelty or neglect

Call 423-305-6500, press 1. Provide the address, animal description, what you observed, your name and callback number.

Field service

Loose or dangerous animals

Contact McKamey’s Animal Protection team for an animal problem within its contracted service area. If a person’s life is in immediate danger, call 911.

Local laws

Barking, tethering and licensing

McKamey’s official Animal Protection page describes local animal ordinances, licensing requirements, barking rules and restrictions on tethering dogs.

Official reporting route: Call 423-305-6500 and select 1. McKamey describes its Animal Protection Services as operating around the clock, all year. You can also review its official reporting instructions . After-hours text messaging is not available. Leave a detailed voicemail when requested.

Emergency & Important Local Contacts

These numbers serve different purposes. Do not use the police non-emergency number as a replacement for ordinary McKamey animal-control reporting.

Organization / purpose	Number	Correct use
McKamey Animal Center	423-305-6500	General shelter contact and department routing.
Animal Protection / Cruelty	423-305-6500, press 1	McKamey animal-protection complaints and dispatch within Chattanooga, Red Bank or Lakesite.
Admissions / Lost Pets	423-305-6500, ext. 3	Lost/found assistance and scheduled owner surrender.
Emergency — Chattanooga	911	Immediate danger requiring police, fire or emergency medical response.
Chattanooga Police non-emergency	423-698-2525	Non-emergency Chattanooga police assistance.
Tennessee Health Department — Rabies information	615-741-7247	State-level zoonotic disease and rabies reporting guidance. Local bites should also be reported to the local health department and animal control.

Animal bite or possible rabies exposure: Obtain medical attention when needed, then report the bite to the local health department and the appropriate local animal-control authority. Tennessee’s Health Department specifically requires both routes for animal-bite reporting. Do not delay urgent medical care while trying to complete an online report.

Jurisdiction warning: Chattanooga Police contact details apply to Chattanooga. A Red Bank or Lakesite police incident may require that city’s own law-enforcement routing. McKamey’s Animal Protection number serves all three contracted cities.

Lost or Found a Pet in Chattanooga?

When a pet goes missing, the first hours can be especially stressful. McKamey operates a lost-and-found process and works with Petco Love Lost for photo-based searches.

If your pet is missing

Call McKamey Admissions at 423-305-6500 ext. 3.
Open the official lost-and-found page and review available found-pet listings.
Upload a photo to Petco Love Lost using the official link on McKamey’s page.
Search nearby streets and ask neighbors to check porches, sheds, garages and fenced spaces.
Contact relevant nearby veterinary practices and other animal shelters in case the pet was transported outside McKamey’s jurisdiction.
Prepare recent photos, microchip details, license details and veterinary records.

If you found an animal

Note the exact street address or cross streets where you found the animal.
Check safely for a collar or identification. Do not approach a frightened or aggressive animal.
Contact McKamey if the animal was found in Chattanooga, Red Bank or Lakesite.
Ask whether the animal should be brought in or whether an Animal Protection officer should respond.
Use Petco Love Lost where appropriate to help locate the owner.

Rehome or Surrender a Pet at McKamey

Giving up a pet is rarely an easy decision. McKamey recommends exploring ways to keep the animal at home first, including available food support, veterinary assistance, behavioral advice and responsible private rehoming.

Required

Schedule an appointment

Owner surrender is by appointment. Call 423-305-6500 ext. 3 to speak with Admissions.

Current fee

$50 surrender fee

The official page lists a regular $50 fee. An additional $50 inconvenience fee applies when an animal is presented without an appointment.

Prepare

Bring records and safe equipment

Bring medical records and honest behavior information. Dogs must be secured on a leash; cats should be in a carrier.

Capacity warning: McKamey’s rehoming page reports significant surrender demand and a waitlist. Availability can change quickly, so do not assume a same-day surrender is possible. Start with the official rehoming procedure before travelling.

McKamey Veterinary Services: Vaccines and Microchips

McKamey provides limited, low-cost preventive veterinary services. Its Monday clinic is intended for vaccines and microchipping—not a substitute for a full-service veterinary hospital or emergency veterinary clinic.

Weekly clinic

Monday: 12 PM–4 PM

The official vaccine and microchip clinic runs every Monday. Appointments are not required. McKamey says the clinic is open to pet owners throughout Hamilton County.

The clinic does not provide routine wellness examinations, treatment for illness, medical exams, flea/tick prevention or heartworm prevention.

Published Vaccine and Microchip Prices

Service	Listed fee	Notes
Rabies vaccine	$20	Confirm the animal meets vaccine requirements.
DHPP/DAPP	$20	Dog vaccination.
FVRCP/HCP	$20	Cat vaccination.
Bordetella	$20	Ask staff about suitability and timing.
Microchip	$20	Keep the registration information updated.

Possible free vaccines: McKamey’s official clinic page describes free DHPP/DAPP and FVRCP/HCP vaccines for Hamilton County residents through Petco Love support. Confirm current supply and program availability before visiting.

McKamey Spay and Neuter Fees and Appointment Process

McKamey offers low-cost spay/neuter surgery for eligible Hamilton County dogs and cats, including a separate community-cat/TNR program.

Procedure	Listed price	Important information
Male dog neuter	$90	Appointment required.
Female dog spay	$110	Appointment required.
Male cat neuter	$75	Appointment required for owned pets.
Female cat spay	$85	Appointment required for owned pets.
Additional medical circumstances	$40 additional where applicable	Certain complications or conditions can add fees.
Additional rabies vaccine	$20	Offered when needed for surgery eligibility.

Before booking

Dogs over 75 lb are not accepted for owned-pet surgery.
Current rabies documentation is required.
Appointments can generally be booked up to one month ahead.
Bring cats in carriers and dogs securely leashed.

On surgery day

The surgery-specific instructions list drop-off between 8 AM and 9 AM and collection between 3 PM and 4 PM.

McKamey’s pages describe appointment scheduling by service; confirm the date and drop-off requirements on your booking.

Official booking: Open McKamey’s spay/neuter page , select the appropriate booking option, review the animal’s eligibility and available dates, then follow the appointment instructions. Community-cat surgery follows a separate procedure.

Does McKamey Have a Public Veterinary Hospital?

McKamey provides preventive vaccine/microchip clinics and scheduled spay/neuter services, but its official information does not establish a general public veterinary hospital offering complete wellness and emergency treatment. A currently verified individual veterinarian roster, doctor-specific public appointment schedule, and general examination fee were not established for this article. Do not confuse McKamey’s preventive services with emergency veterinary treatment.

Pet Licensing in Chattanooga, Red Bank and Lakesite

McKamey states that cats and dogs in its three contracted cities must have current rabies vaccination and the applicable city license. The organization works with DocuPet to provide online licensing and identification tags.

License fees listed at the vaccine clinic

Altered pets: $10.

Unaltered pets: $50.

McKamey also lists a free altered-pet license option for qualifying senior citizens, up to three pets. Confirm current jurisdiction-specific licensing terms.

How to license your pet

Prepare current rabies vaccination records.
Open McKamey’s official license page .
Choose the applicable city/DocuPet registration route.
Provide your pet and owner details.
Complete payment and retain the license information.

McKamey Service Area: Who Should Call?

McKamey’s contracted animal-protection and intake jurisdictions are the cities of Chattanooga, Red Bank and Lakesite. Its preventive vaccine and spay/neuter services have broader Hamilton County eligibility.

Location	Animal-services route	What matters
Chattanooga	McKamey Animal Protection	Contracted city services.
Red Bank	McKamey Animal Protection	Contracted city services.
Lakesite	McKamey Animal Protection	Contracted city services.
Unincorporated Hamilton County	Humane Educational Society	McKamey’s official lost-pet page directs residents to the Humane Educational Society at 423-624-5302.
East Ridge	East Ridge Animal Services	McKamey lists 423-664-0271 for that separate jurisdiction.

Boundary reminder: An address with a Chattanooga mailing designation is not necessarily inside Chattanooga city limits. Confirm the property’s actual municipality before assuming which animal-control agency must respond.

What to Bring to McKamey Animal Center

Adoption visit

Valid photo ID.
Animal name or ID from the current listing.
Appropriate leash/collar or pet carrier.
Payment method for the applicable adoption fee.
Questions about behavior and care.

Surgery visit

Confirmed appointment.
Rabies vaccination record.
Secure leash or carrier.
Any documents required by the booking.
Availability for same-day pickup.

Lost-pet inquiry

Recent pet photos.
Microchip or license details.
Veterinary records.
Where and when the pet was last seen.
Your reachable contact number.

McKamey Animal Center Map and Directions

McKamey Animal Center
4500 North Access Road
Chattanooga, TN 37415

Official McKamey and Local Public-Service Links

The procedures and prices are explained above. These are the first-party resources to use for live animal availability, booking forms, holiday updates and agency contact.

McKamey Animal Center Official shelter website. Adoption Process Requirements, fees, steps, holds and policies. Contact and Department Hours Adoption, Admissions and Animal Protection contact routes. Animal Protection Official cruelty, neglect and field-service reporting. Lost and Found Pets Found-pet listings, reunification tools and jurisdiction information. Vaccines and Microchips Monday clinic hours, eligibility and published prices. Spay and Neuter Fees, limitations and surgery scheduling. Rehome a Pet Owner-surrender appointments, fees and support options. Chattanooga Police Official emergency and non-emergency contacts. Tennessee Rabies Information Official animal-bite reporting and rabies guidance.

McKamey Animal Shelter: 10 Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are McKamey Animal Center adoption hours in 2026?

McKamey is open for adoptions Tuesday–Friday from 12 PM to 6 PM and Saturday–Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. The Adoption Center is closed Monday.

2. Where is McKamey Animal Center located?

The shelter is located at 4500 North Access Road, Chattanooga, TN 37415.

3. What is the McKamey Animal Center phone number?

The main number is 423-305-6500. Select extension 4 for adoptions, extension 3 for Admissions/lost pets, or option 1 for Animal Protection.

4. Do I need an appointment to adopt from McKamey?

No. Normal adoptions are conducted without an appointment and generally follow a first-come, first-served process. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, present valid photo ID and complete adoption counseling.

5. How much does adopting a dog or cat cost?

McKamey’s standard published ranges are $50–$400 for dogs and puppies and $50–$200 for cats and kittens. Individual animals and special promotions may differ.

6. Can McKamey hold an animal for adoption?

Certain eligible animals may receive a 24-hour hold after an in-person meeting. Hold fees apply, and McKamey does not place holds over the phone or email. Puppies, kittens and highly desirable pets are generally not eligible.

7. How do I report animal cruelty or neglect?

Within Chattanooga, Red Bank or Lakesite, call 423-305-6500 and press 1 for McKamey’s Animal Protection team. Provide the incident location, animal description and relevant details. For immediate danger to human life, call 911.

8. Does McKamey provide low-cost vaccinations?

Yes. Its vaccine and microchip clinic operates Mondays from noon to 4 PM without an appointment. Published vaccine and microchip prices are generally $20 per listed service, with qualifying free vaccines sometimes available through Petco Love support.

9. How much is spay/neuter surgery at McKamey?

Current published prices include male dog neuter $90, female dog spay $110, male cat neuter $75 and female cat spay $85. Appointments and eligibility requirements apply for owned animals.

10. How do I surrender a pet or report a missing pet?

Call McKamey Admissions at 423-305-6500 extension 3. Owner surrender requires an appointment and a regular $50 surrender fee. For a missing pet, use McKamey’s lost-and-found listings and Petco Love Lost to assist your search.

Independent information notice: Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational website. It is not McKamey Animal Center, Chattanooga Police, Hamilton County government or Tennessee’s Department of Health. Live adoption availability, exceptional closure dates and appointment slots should be confirmed with the appropriate official provider.