News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Best Friends Sanctuary of Jamestown has been dedicated to reducing the stray animal population for over 20 years
President Sharon Cravens has been the president of the group for the majority of its life. Through rescue missions and advocacy, the organization has taken in over 50,000 homeless pets.
“I have never been homeless or without food or water or anything like that or medical care when I needed it,” Craven said. “I have been fortunate God has blessed me. And, you look at the animals, and they can’t do it for themselves. We’re the ones putting them in the predicament they are put in a lot of times. So, it has just touched my heart.”
Out of all the animals saved, Cravens said one black Labrador named Blackie would describe the organization’s mission the best. Blackie was taken in and had a medical condition causing his eyes to be removed. Cravens said Best Friends Sanctuary paid for the surgery and found him a home.
“Though he doesn’t have his eyes, he is very affectionate and loving to her and her husband and her family,” Cravens said. “And that just touches my heart to think he would have probably been put down somewhere else, and it just shows you what compassion and caring can do for animals.”
Cravens said the organization assures all animals food, housing, medical care and tender love and care. Cravens said the goal is to find each pet a forever home, but it wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers.
“Some of the girls that we started the organization, we got started with Best Friends in 2001,” Cravens said. “Everyone of us had animals that we had taken in. We thought we had to do something for our community, so we started that to reduce the stray population in Fentress County.”
Cravens said they also offer discounted rabies shots and spay and neutering.
