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Meet our team:
Ashley Thomas, Shelter Director
Ashley’s family includes an extremely supportive husband, and several rescued furry family members. Her personal experience includes cats, dogs, goats, pigs, ferrets, and birds. 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 is beyond excited to use her knowledge in her new role as Shelter Director for Sevier Animal Care Center. She grew up in Seymour and is overjoyed to be able to be able to help the animals in her own community.
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, driving sport cars, motorcycles, and obsessing over nerdy fandoms.
Ashley Thomas, Shelter Director
Ashley’s family includes an extremely supportive husband, and several rescued furry family members. Her personal experience includes cats, dogs, goats, pigs, ferrets, and birds. 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 is beyond excited to use her knowledge in her new role as Shelter Director for Sevier Animal Care Center. She grew up in Seymour and is overjoyed to be able to be able to help the animals in her own community.
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, driving sport cars, motorcycles, and obsessing over nerdy fandoms.
Amanda Hall, Shelter Manager / Foster Coordinator
Amanda is a wife and a mother to of one human child and a few lucky rescued cats and a small dog. Amanda has been a foster mama for feral and neonatal kittens since her sheltering career started at Young-Williams Animal Center nine years ago. Amanda began her journey there as an adoption counselor, and eventually moved to the intake department where she acquired extensive experience working with many different types of animals. Amanda’s passion for helping pets in need runs deep. She is excited to join Sevierville and the surrounding counties in their mission to help prevent pet homelessness and over population.
Amanda is a wife and a mother to of one human child and a few lucky rescued cats and a small dog. Amanda has been a foster mama for feral and neonatal kittens since her sheltering career started at Young-Williams Animal Center nine years ago. Amanda began her journey there as an adoption counselor, and eventually moved to the intake department where she acquired extensive experience working with many different types of animals. Amanda’s passion for helping pets in need runs deep. She is excited to join Sevierville and the surrounding counties in their mission to help prevent pet homelessness and over population.
Janice Templeton, Assistant Shelter Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
Janice is married to Derick Templeton and has two amazing daughters, Whitley (18 yrs.) and Kennedy (15 yrs.). She is a big-time soccer mom and makes sure her kids can hear her cheering them on. In 2016, Janice worked at Sevier County Humane Society as a kennel tech. She then spent most of 2017 volunteering for Pets Without Parents. At PWP she helped with events, transporting animals to the vet, and anything else needed. During the 3 months after Pets Without Parents’ shutdown, she worked alongside her husband to help find homes for the 150 animals that were in PWP’s care. That is where she met our Shelter Director, Ashley, who came to lend a hand. In the aftermath of that experience, Janice found a new animal welfare group to support- Misfit Dog Project. She volunteers and fosters for MDP. Her favorite thing to help with is adoption events because she and the animals get to meet new people and Janice loves talking to the community. As a side project, Janice TNR’s (trap, neuter, release) feral cats in Pigeon Forge to help lower the homeless cat population. Janice came to join our Sevier Animal Care Center Team on 9/1/19, and did not miss a beat. Her knowledge, experience, and ties this the community are invaluable.
Janice is married to Derick Templeton and has two amazing daughters, Whitley (18 yrs.) and Kennedy (15 yrs.). She is a big-time soccer mom and makes sure her kids can hear her cheering them on. In 2016, Janice worked at Sevier County Humane Society as a kennel tech. She then spent most of 2017 volunteering for Pets Without Parents. At PWP she helped with events, transporting animals to the vet, and anything else needed. During the 3 months after Pets Without Parents’ shutdown, she worked alongside her husband to help find homes for the 150 animals that were in PWP’s care. That is where she met our Shelter Director, Ashley, who came to lend a hand. In the aftermath of that experience, Janice found a new animal welfare group to support- Misfit Dog Project. She volunteers and fosters for MDP. Her favorite thing to help with is adoption events because she and the animals get to meet new people and Janice loves talking to the community. As a side project, Janice TNR’s (trap, neuter, release) feral cats in Pigeon Forge to help lower the homeless cat population. Janice came to join our Sevier Animal Care Center Team on 9/1/19, and did not miss a beat. Her knowledge, experience, and ties this the community are invaluable.
Jamie Jett, Kennel Technician
Jamie’s family includes 2 sons, 1 daughter, and 6 dogs. One of his furkids is a pitbull blend named Diesel who was adopted from our shelter. Jamie and his family volunteered with us during the first couple of months after our shelter opened. His dedication and compassion for our animals became apparent very quickly, as did his strong work ethic. Jamie was hired in January and has hit the ground running. In the recent past, Jamie has worked construction and maintenance jobs. To his credit, he has been a member of the Northview Kodak Volunteer Fire Department for 18 years, as well as a Lieutenant for 3 terms.
Jamie Jett, Kennel Technician
Jamie’s family includes 2 sons, 1 daughter, and 6 dogs. One of his furkids is a pitbull blend named Diesel who was adopted from our shelter. Jamie and his family volunteered with us during the first couple of months after our shelter opened. His dedication and compassion for our animals became apparent very quickly, as did his strong work ethic. Jamie was hired in January and has hit the ground running. In the recent past, Jamie has worked construction and maintenance jobs. To his credit, he has been a member of the Northview Kodak Volunteer Fire Department for 18 years, as well as a Lieutenant for 3 terms.
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Hope Maxwell, Kennel Technician
Hope Maxwell was hired at the end of June, 2019. We are fortunate to have her compassionate nature and bright spirit on our team! She enjoys caring for her family’s various cats (Chloe, Edna, and Tiger) and dogs (Laken, Tasha, and Dixie), and since 2017, she has taken on the additional responsibility of caring for four horses (Golden, Midnight, Hiker, and Harley). Hope volunteers with Horse Haven of Tennessee where she is part of the GO Team, an emergency equine rescue group on call 24/7 to assist in car wrecks, owner surrenders, and other tragedies where horses are involved. In addition, she is part of Horse Haven’s exercise program where she rides or walks horses needing that attention. In her free time, Hope also enjoys training and participating in rodeos with Golden (a rescue from Horse Haven) where they run poles and barrels. They are a competitive team with very similar personalities. At Sevier Animal Care Center, Hope is a kennel technician who is continuously stepping up to foster the kittens and pups in most need! Her favorite part about working SACC is the ability to learn new skills.
Hope Maxwell was hired at the end of June, 2019. We are fortunate to have her compassionate nature and bright spirit on our team! She enjoys caring for her family’s various cats (Chloe, Edna, and Tiger) and dogs (Laken, Tasha, and Dixie), and since 2017, she has taken on the additional responsibility of caring for four horses (Golden, Midnight, Hiker, and Harley). Hope volunteers with Horse Haven of Tennessee where she is part of the GO Team, an emergency equine rescue group on call 24/7 to assist in car wrecks, owner surrenders, and other tragedies where horses are involved. In addition, she is part of Horse Haven’s exercise program where she rides or walks horses needing that attention. In her free time, Hope also enjoys training and participating in rodeos with Golden (a rescue from Horse Haven) where they run poles and barrels. They are a competitive team with very similar personalities. At Sevier Animal Care Center, Hope is a kennel technician who is continuously stepping up to foster the kittens and pups in most need! Her favorite part about working SACC is the ability to learn new skills.
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Sarah Jones, Kennel Technician
Sarah is a student at the University of Tennessee, who is majoring in Biology and Wildlife Conservation. She has previously interned at Zoo Knoxville working with giraffes, zebras, and water buck. During that time, Sarah learned quite a bit about disease prevention and animal enrichment. She grew up helping her family rescue animals from harsh conditions, and has a special place in her heart for raising newborn kittens. Sarah was introduced to sheltering by her sister, an adoption specialist at Young Williams Animal Center who helped Sarah adopt her cat. After falling in love with her now 6 year old Snowshoe named Alfredo, Sarah came to work with us to help others find the same joy of owning a pet. She also plans to continue her pursuit of giving animals a better quality of life. In her free time, She enjoys reading sci-fi and action novels, record collecting, and hiking.
Sarah is a student at the University of Tennessee, who is majoring in Biology and Wildlife Conservation. She has previously interned at Zoo Knoxville working with giraffes, zebras, and water buck. During that time, Sarah learned quite a bit about disease prevention and animal enrichment. She grew up helping her family rescue animals from harsh conditions, and has a special place in her heart for raising newborn kittens. Sarah was introduced to sheltering by her sister, an adoption specialist at Young Williams Animal Center who helped Sarah adopt her cat. After falling in love with her now 6 year old Snowshoe named Alfredo, Sarah came to work with us to help others find the same joy of owning a pet. She also plans to continue her pursuit of giving animals a better quality of life. In her free time, She enjoys reading sci-fi and action novels, record collecting, and hiking.