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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
Amanda is a newlywed with a marvelous husband and an amazing son. She is also a mother to a few lucky rescued cats and a small dog. Amanda been a foster mama for feral and neonatal kittens since her sheltering career started at Young-Williams Animal Center six 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 newlywed with a marvelous husband and an amazing son. She is also a mother to a few lucky rescued cats and a small dog. Amanda been a foster mama for feral and neonatal kittens since her sheltering career started at Young-Williams Animal Center six 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.
Bridgette McCarter, Assistant Kennel Manager
Jamie Jett, Kennel Technician
Jamie’s family includes his wife, Amy, 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 his wife, Amy, 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.
Hope Maxwell, Kennel Technician
Janice Templeton, Kennel Technician
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.
Robin Brunner, Kennel Technician
Robin’s family includes two large dogs, a cat, and most of the time- foster kittens. She moved from Colorado to Knoxville in 2017. Before working for animal shelters, Robin worked for a small doggy daycare business where she trained in K9 First Aid and CPR, and also learned more about dog behaviors. Robin began her work in shelter life at Young Williams Animal Center in 2017, where she joined the adoption team. She fell madly in love with her work. Sheltering has changed her life so much that now Robin can only see non-profit and shelter/rescues work in her future. Robin has a special soft spot for anxious or older animals that can sometimes be overlooked in shelter environments and loves to help them reach their full potential. While she’s not working, Robin loves to hike and camp with her fur family, and also shop at local antique shops (there are a lot more in the south!). She is very excited to work for Sevier Animal Care Center, and says she has already learned an abundance of things from her experienced coworkers!
Robin’s family includes two large dogs, a cat, and most of the time- foster kittens. She moved from Colorado to Knoxville in 2017. Before working for animal shelters, Robin worked for a small doggy daycare business where she trained in K9 First Aid and CPR, and also learned more about dog behaviors. Robin began her work in shelter life at Young Williams Animal Center in 2017, where she joined the adoption team. She fell madly in love with her work. Sheltering has changed her life so much that now Robin can only see non-profit and shelter/rescues work in her future. Robin has a special soft spot for anxious or older animals that can sometimes be overlooked in shelter environments and loves to help them reach their full potential. While she’s not working, Robin loves to hike and camp with her fur family, and also shop at local antique shops (there are a lot more in the south!). She is very excited to work for Sevier Animal Care Center, and says she has already learned an abundance of things from her experienced coworkers!