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 Damien Wisell, Assistant Shelter Manager/Volunteer 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.
Damien Wisell, Assistant Shelter Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
Brittany Brown, Kennel Technician
Brooklyn Williams, Kennel Technician
Madi Denault, Kennel Technician
Sam Fine, Kennel Technician
Krystal Boyle, Kennel Technician