Meet our team:
Ashley Thomas, Shelter Director
Ashley’s family includes an extremely supportive husband, and several rescued dogs, goats, & feral cats. Her personal experience includes cats, dogs, goats, pigs, ferrets, lizards, rabbits, and birds. After volunteering for about a year at various local shelters, Ashley started working at Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville in January of 2009 as a kennel cleaner. She quickly discovered that she was especially passionate about fostering animals that were not ready for adoption. During her first four years at YWAC, she worked in animal care, intake, and adoptions. In 2013, Ashley became the Placement Manager and immediately began building a foster care program which had approximately 350 families engaged in lifesaving efforts when she left YWAC. Ashley’s time running the foster program greatly expanded her medical capabilities and knowledge. As Placement Manager, she was also responsible for rescue group partnerships/placement, northern transport initiatives, helping to manage the shelter, and performing behavior assessments. Ashley grew up in Seymour and is overjoyed to continue helping the animals in her own community. In late 2018, Ashley took on the role of Shelter Director for Sevier Animal Care Center.
Ashley is passionate about promoting the need for self-care in the field of animal welfare to fight the effects of compassion fatigue. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, anything with an engine, and obsessing over nerdy fandoms.
Ashley’s family includes an extremely supportive husband, and several rescued dogs, goats, & feral cats. Her personal experience includes cats, dogs, goats, pigs, ferrets, lizards, rabbits, and birds. After volunteering for about a year at various local shelters, Ashley started working at Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville in January of 2009 as a kennel cleaner. She quickly discovered that she was especially passionate about fostering animals that were not ready for adoption. During her first four years at YWAC, she worked in animal care, intake, and adoptions. In 2013, Ashley became the Placement Manager and immediately began building a foster care program which had approximately 350 families engaged in lifesaving efforts when she left YWAC. Ashley’s time running the foster program greatly expanded her medical capabilities and knowledge. As Placement Manager, she was also responsible for rescue group partnerships/placement, northern transport initiatives, helping to manage the shelter, and performing behavior assessments. Ashley grew up in Seymour and is overjoyed to continue helping the animals in her own community. In late 2018, Ashley took on the role of Shelter Director for Sevier Animal Care Center.
Ashley is passionate about promoting the need for self-care in the field of animal welfare to fight the effects of compassion fatigue. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, anything with an engine, and obsessing over nerdy fandoms.
Luna Brewer, Shelter Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
Luna is a dog mom to a wonderful 6-year old Corgi mix, one neuro kitty and three crazed carpet snakes (ferrets). She first started her animal welfare journey in high school as a volunteer for her local humane society and started a school wide project to create blankets and feral cat boxes for pets in her community. Upon graduation from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2019, Luna continued her journey with employment at Young-Williams Animal Center as a Pet Resource Specialist. From there she has worked at The Humane Society of Tennessee Valley in Knoxville and acted as Shelter Manager at Companion Animal Rescue & Education in Jefferson City. Luna finds passion in conflict resolution, helping people retain ownership of their pets and socializing scared or undersocialized cats and dogs.
When she’s not staging cute photos of dogs or at work in the shelter, Luna finds peace of mind hiking and kayaking in the great outdoors (despite being a city girl from California), playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends, and curling up with her pets and partner to binge-watching “The Office.” Luna is ecstatic to use her skills and knowledge to help the pets and community of Sevier County as Shelter Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at SACC!
Luna Brewer, Shelter Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
Luna is a dog mom to a wonderful 6-year old Corgi mix, one neuro kitty and three crazed carpet snakes (ferrets). She first started her animal welfare journey in high school as a volunteer for her local humane society and started a school wide project to create blankets and feral cat boxes for pets in her community. Upon graduation from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2019, Luna continued her journey with employment at Young-Williams Animal Center as a Pet Resource Specialist. From there she has worked at The Humane Society of Tennessee Valley in Knoxville and acted as Shelter Manager at Companion Animal Rescue & Education in Jefferson City. Luna finds passion in conflict resolution, helping people retain ownership of their pets and socializing scared or undersocialized cats and dogs.
When she’s not staging cute photos of dogs or at work in the shelter, Luna finds peace of mind hiking and kayaking in the great outdoors (despite being a city girl from California), playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends, and curling up with her pets and partner to binge-watching “The Office.” Luna is ecstatic to use her skills and knowledge to help the pets and community of Sevier County as Shelter Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at SACC!
2222222222222222222222222222222222222202Tiffany Dawson, Assistant Shelter Manager/Foster Care Coordinator
Tiffany has worked and volunteered for multiple shelters over many years. During her career in animal welfare, she has been an advocate, Resource Coordinator for pet parents, a shelter manager, and a shelter director. In her free time, Tiffany is a District Volunteer Leader for the Humane Society of the United States, which puts her in a unique position to push for better legislation in an effort to protect pets, wildlife, and farm animals.
Tiffany has overseen shelter staff and championed programs for communities based on their needs, promoting the bond between human and animals. She has acted as a liaison for veterinary clinics, community service organizations, shelters, domestic violence survivors, and pet parents in need of critical assistance with keeping their pets in their homes during times of personal tragedy. Ending the unnecessary euthanasia of wildlife in animal shelters is a passion of hers. By collaborating with wildlife rehabilitation experts to transfer wildlife intake from animal shelters to their facilities, Tiffany saved many of these vulnerable and needed species. She has great enthusiasm for developing relationships between shelter staff and members of the community to build a “community shelter,” where everyone is using their unique skills to speak for the voiceless and solve problems for companion animals and wildlife.
Through experiences of tragedy and triumph in animal welfare, Tiffany has found her collective experiences have charted a path and given her tools to create life-saving programs. She is profoundly dedicated to assisting others and believes that kindness and compassion for human and non-human animals creates opportunities for all and promotes new advocates.
Tiffany’s is also passionate about emergency response, medical & social intervention for companion animals and wildlife, and serving the needs of the most at-risk animals, such as neonates & critically ill or injured animals. She has a strong commitment to those suffering the most, and believes in affording hope and chances to those who may not normally receive them. Tiffany has trained extensively in crisis management for hoarding and abuse cases. In addition, she has devoted much of her time as an animal welfare professional to the improvement of foster care program, which provide essential and immediate care, and keep companion animals outside of the walls of the shelter where they can thrive until they find forever placement.
We at Sevier Animal Care Center are so excited for such an experienced addition to our team and know Tiffany will be an huge asset to our community!
Tiffany has worked and volunteered for multiple shelters over many years. During her career in animal welfare, she has been an advocate, Resource Coordinator for pet parents, a shelter manager, and a shelter director. In her free time, Tiffany is a District Volunteer Leader for the Humane Society of the United States, which puts her in a unique position to push for better legislation in an effort to protect pets, wildlife, and farm animals.
Tiffany has overseen shelter staff and championed programs for communities based on their needs, promoting the bond between human and animals. She has acted as a liaison for veterinary clinics, community service organizations, shelters, domestic violence survivors, and pet parents in need of critical assistance with keeping their pets in their homes during times of personal tragedy. Ending the unnecessary euthanasia of wildlife in animal shelters is a passion of hers. By collaborating with wildlife rehabilitation experts to transfer wildlife intake from animal shelters to their facilities, Tiffany saved many of these vulnerable and needed species. She has great enthusiasm for developing relationships between shelter staff and members of the community to build a “community shelter,” where everyone is using their unique skills to speak for the voiceless and solve problems for companion animals and wildlife.
Through experiences of tragedy and triumph in animal welfare, Tiffany has found her collective experiences have charted a path and given her tools to create life-saving programs. She is profoundly dedicated to assisting others and believes that kindness and compassion for human and non-human animals creates opportunities for all and promotes new advocates.
Tiffany’s is also passionate about emergency response, medical & social intervention for companion animals and wildlife, and serving the needs of the most at-risk animals, such as neonates & critically ill or injured animals. She has a strong commitment to those suffering the most, and believes in affording hope and chances to those who may not normally receive them. Tiffany has trained extensively in crisis management for hoarding and abuse cases. In addition, she has devoted much of her time as an animal welfare professional to the improvement of foster care program, which provide essential and immediate care, and keep companion animals outside of the walls of the shelter where they can thrive until they find forever placement.
We at Sevier Animal Care Center are so excited for such an experienced addition to our team and know Tiffany will be an huge asset to our community!
Julianna Norris, Kennel Technician
Julianna is a Sevier county local who started her journey by volunteering for shelters throughout high school but has had a keen interest in animal welfare since she was young. As a child, she spent a lot of time rescuing strays with her mom from whom she inherited a great passion for caregiving.
As Julianna has gained experience in shelter work, we have learned that she is very passionate about owner pet retention programs and feral cat community education. Julianna is especially led to give extra love and enrichment to animals who come in from cruelty cases or animals who have behavioral issues and just need a little extra guidance or attention. She also has a huge soft spot for senior animals.
In her spare time, Julianna loves playing tennis (which she played competitively for 7+ years), rewatching the same 80s horror flicks over and over, listening to music, and hanging out with her coworkers. She has 3 senior cats and a senior rabbit who rule her house.
Julianna is a Sevier county local who started her journey by volunteering for shelters throughout high school but has had a keen interest in animal welfare since she was young. As a child, she spent a lot of time rescuing strays with her mom from whom she inherited a great passion for caregiving.
As Julianna has gained experience in shelter work, we have learned that she is very passionate about owner pet retention programs and feral cat community education. Julianna is especially led to give extra love and enrichment to animals who come in from cruelty cases or animals who have behavioral issues and just need a little extra guidance or attention. She also has a huge soft spot for senior animals.
In her spare time, Julianna loves playing tennis (which she played competitively for 7+ years), rewatching the same 80s horror flicks over and over, listening to music, and hanging out with her coworkers. She has 3 senior cats and a senior rabbit who rule her house.
Reilly Schneider, Kennel Technician
While this may be Reilly‘s first official job working with animals, she has always had a strong passion for them. She hit the ground running and has already learned so much about our intake and adoption departments. Getting to know all the animals and their personalities is one of her favorite things. Reilly also went through Emergency Medical Technician school (EMT) training. She truly enjoys helping people and animals in difficult times, but animals have always had a special place in her heart. Reilly is the proud owner of 3 animals. Her two dogs, Finn and Darcy, and the newest edition, Lilah the cat, are very lucky to have such a dedicated momma.
While this may be Reilly‘s first official job working with animals, she has always had a strong passion for them. She hit the ground running and has already learned so much about our intake and adoption departments. Getting to know all the animals and their personalities is one of her favorite things. Reilly also went through Emergency Medical Technician school (EMT) training. She truly enjoys helping people and animals in difficult times, but animals have always had a special place in her heart. Reilly is the proud owner of 3 animals. Her two dogs, Finn and Darcy, and the newest edition, Lilah the cat, are very lucky to have such a dedicated momma.
Heather Saylor, Kennel Technician
Heather was raised in Kentucky and moved here 2019. Heather loves animals so deeply and her favorite part of animal welfare is being an advocate to give the animals a voice. She also loves that moment when the furbabies get adopted and head out the door with their forever families.
Heather is a caretaker to her core, and the proud mother of a teenage daughter, who loves animals as much as she does. She has an associates degree in the Arts and is also a Peer Recovery Support Specialist. Heather’s huge heart and amazing work ethic is such a benefit to our animals here in Sevier County!
Heather was raised in Kentucky and moved here 2019. Heather loves animals so deeply and her favorite part of animal welfare is being an advocate to give the animals a voice. She also loves that moment when the furbabies get adopted and head out the door with their forever families.
Heather is a caretaker to her core, and the proud mother of a teenage daughter, who loves animals as much as she does. She has an associates degree in the Arts and is also a Peer Recovery Support Specialist. Heather’s huge heart and amazing work ethic is such a benefit to our animals here in Sevier County!
Jozy Brooks, Kennel Technician
Jozy was born with a huge heart and drive to help her community. She has been a volunteer firefighter for Sevier County since she was 14 years old. Jozy is also very passionate about helping homeless animals that tend to get overlooked or have special needs. All of her pets were adopted from our shelter or the Jefferson County animal shelter, C.A.R.E. This includes Rocco the cat, Binx the cat and Sugar-a three-legged husky & corgi mix.
Jozy‘s favorite things are hiking, hanging out with friends, and giving shelter dogs belly rubs. She comes from incredibly caring family who supports her 100%.
Jozy was born with a huge heart and drive to help her community. She has been a volunteer firefighter for Sevier County since she was 14 years old. Jozy is also very passionate about helping homeless animals that tend to get overlooked or have special needs. All of her pets were adopted from our shelter or the Jefferson County animal shelter, C.A.R.E. This includes Rocco the cat, Binx the cat and Sugar-a three-legged husky & corgi mix.
Jozy‘s favorite things are hiking, hanging out with friends, and giving shelter dogs belly rubs. She comes from incredibly caring family who supports her 100%.
Kerri Medlin, Kennel Technician
Jordan Crum, Kennel Technician
Jordan was born and raised in Newport, Tennessee. Their favorite thing about animal welfare is helping dogs to learn to trust again and that not all humans are bad. Their personal mission also includes helping humans that cross their path needing assistance or education. Every day Jordan makes an impact for animals in our area as they have run a 501(c)(3) rescue called Hearts of Steel Rescue since 2018.
Jordan and their wife are the proud owners of multiple rescued dogs and cats. In their free time, Jordan loves to read and is a huge history nerd. Sevier Animal Care Center is lucky to have someone with such a wealth of experience in animal rescue.
Jordan was born and raised in Newport, Tennessee. Their favorite thing about animal welfare is helping dogs to learn to trust again and that not all humans are bad. Their personal mission also includes helping humans that cross their path needing assistance or education. Every day Jordan makes an impact for animals in our area as they have run a 501(c)(3) rescue called Hearts of Steel Rescue since 2018.
Jordan and their wife are the proud owners of multiple rescued dogs and cats. In their free time, Jordan loves to read and is a huge history nerd. Sevier Animal Care Center is lucky to have someone with such a wealth of experience in animal rescue.
Hannah Bottoms, Kennel Technician
Hannah’s family includes one cat named Pumba, four ferrets, and five dogs: Keizer (Doberman), Romeo (pit mix), Raya (pit mix), Shelby (blue heeler mix) and Mister (Chi-pom). She also has a wonderful mom named Christy, who is a major source of support in her life. In her free time, Hannah enjoys four wheeling and being outdoors.
Hannah is very close to finishing her course at Animal Behavioral College to receive her official dog training certificate. Because of her wealth of knowledge with behavior and training, she has been such an asset to our shelter babies! Her favorite thing about animal welfare is seeing how excited the animals are to leave the shelter for their forever homes.
Hannah’s family includes one cat named Pumba, four ferrets, and five dogs: Keizer (Doberman), Romeo (pit mix), Raya (pit mix), Shelby (blue heeler mix) and Mister (Chi-pom). She also has a wonderful mom named Christy, who is a major source of support in her life. In her free time, Hannah enjoys four wheeling and being outdoors.
Hannah is very close to finishing her course at Animal Behavioral College to receive her official dog training certificate. Because of her wealth of knowledge with behavior and training, she has been such an asset to our shelter babies! Her favorite thing about animal welfare is seeing how excited the animals are to leave the shelter for their forever homes.
Sammi Hayes, Kennel Technician