In 2008 a small group of animal lovers met and started a group to be named Safe Haven Animal Rescue Program (SHARP). These animal lovers personally saw the effects of a rural county with no animal shelters. Polk County is in the far South-eastern corner of Tennessee. It is a very rural county with most of its 442 sq. miles belonging to the Cherokee National Forest. Unfortunately, the beauty of the mountains and forest has drawn people to drop family pets off to survive on their own.
SHARP’s dedicated members knew becoming a 501-3-c would help with fund raising and achieve long term goals. With our new status achieved, SHARP put together a new mission statement and strategic plan to guide the group forward.
Our group consists of hard working everyday people with the passion to give time and love to every dog taken in. Currently we use a foster based program to house our dogs. Each dog taken in is given all shots, heartworm checked and spayed or neutered before being offered for adoption. SHARP dogs are kept with their foster parent and treated like a member of their own family. The foster based system allows us to give great detail to potential families about each dog’s characteristics and needs. Of course the tears flow when it is time to hand a dog over to a new family, but the tears are always followed up with a smile knowing one more dog has a forever home.
In 2012 over 80 dogs from Polk County were adopted to a new forever home through SHARP. We know every year the number of dogs needing help is growing. Each dog relies not only on their new foster mom for encouragement and love, but donations from every source possible.
Please consider joining our group in any capacity or making a donation today.
Mission Statement:
The mission of SHARP, a 501(c) 3, is to provide assistance to dogs and cats in need and promote spay/neuter surgeries in Polk County, TN.
