About Us

Monroe County Friends of Animals

Volunteers are truly the backbone of our organization One of the most important roles we serve is coordinating the many volunteer-staffed programs — all of which are critical to helping us care for the animals at the shelter and finding them new homes. These volunteer initiatives include:

Hands-on animal care, socialization and training at the shelter
Fostering/providing temporary homes for dogs and cats from the shelter
Providing spay and neuter vouchers to local low-income pet owners (through our Spay Neuter Assistance Program [SNAP]), enabling them to have the surgeries done.
Transporting animals to shelters and pet rescues in many different states where there is greater demand and they are quickly adopted.
Providing pet food for families of limited means through our Food Pantry program.

The Monroe County Friends of Animals (MCFA) is a not-for-profit volunteer organization with 501(c) (3) status located in Monroe County, Tennessee. Our organization was created in 2004 by concerned citizens who recognized a dire need throughout the county for animal welfare. At that time there was no animal shelter, no place to go to adopt, no place to surrender animals that could no longer be cared for, and stray and abandoned animals loose everywhere in the community.

Partnering with the county, together we opened the Monroe County Animal Shelter, located at 170 Kefauver Lane, Madisonville, TN (MAP). The county leased the site from a retired veterinarian and with a lot of volunteer help, converted it into the shelter that we continue to use today. Since its formation, MCFA has supported the Monroe County Animal Shelter monetarily with the costs of operation shared. The cost of animal food, medicine, and medical treatment is borne by MCFA. The cost of staff salaries, rent and utilities is borne by the county.

More than 25,000 animals have been adopted from the shelter or rescued since we started in 2004. Through the years, with grants and the labor of our volunteers, we’ve been able to make significant enhancements to the shelter, but our ultimate goal is to build a new shelter.

View bylaws

OUR MISSION

“Provide for and continuously improve the health, happiness, and fortunes of the homeless and abandoned cats and dogs in Monroe County”

Board Members

Cheryl Ulmer

President (Vonore)

Cheryl is not just an advocate for animals; she embodies a lifelong commitment to their well-being. With over 25 years of dedicated service in non-profit dog and cat rescue, her journey has been marked by a deep-rooted passion for animal welfare. Cheryl’s diverse experience includes the humble task of cleaning cages at rescue centers to offering compassionate adoption counseling. She has tirelessly raised funds through innovative off-site events and has served as a beacon of leadership as Board President.

One of Cheryl’s most significant achievements was spearheading a major effort as Board President, where she played a pivotal role in completing a comprehensive plan for a groundbreaking capital campaign aimed at constructing an $8 million center.

Scott Shapiro

Vice President (Tellico Plains)

In 1979 Dr. Shapiro was accepted in to the 77th Police Academy in Broward County Florida. During his 25-years with the sheriff’s office, Scott obtained his Batchelor’s degree in Business from Barry University. Later he got a master’s in nutrition and two Doctoral degrees, one in Naturopathic Medicine and a second in Complementary and Alternative Medicine from Westbrook University.

Dr. Shapiro currently owns two successful businesses, a private investigation firm and a construction and remodeling company. He lives in Tellico Plains with his wife of 38 years, their two children and two grandchildren on their farm with over 50 animals.

Glenn Edwards

Treasurer (Sweetwater)

Glenn, the Treasurer at Monroe County Friends of Animals, has dedicated several years to volunteering at the MCFA Thrift Store. With the objective of supporting the shelter operations, Glenn expressed, “By helping out at the store, I can contribute to making money.” Prior to his retirement, he held managerial positions in cost and financial planning at Robbins & Myers C., customer service and accounting at Standard Register Co., and served in the United States Air Force. Glenn’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in Business with a major in accounting from Miami University (Oxford, OH).

Sabrina Huffstetler

Secretary (Maryville)

Sabrina Huffstetler, a native of Maryville, TN, is a dedicated community volunteer and animal lover. With decades of experience, she has worked with various nonprofit organizations in East Tennessee, focusing on animal welfare. Sabrina is an approved Foster Mom at Monroe County Animal Shelter, Campbell County Animal Shelter, Tennessee Tails Rescue, and the Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association (ACDRA). Alongside her fulfilling family life, she has been a Registered Nurse for 28 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 11 years. Sabrina’s passion is empowering individuals through education, whether it’s promoting self-care or responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spaying and neutering. She has lovingly fostered 37 dogs and 34 cats in the past four years. Monroe County Friends of Animals proudly supports Sabrina Huffstetler and her incredible contributions to our community.

Jim Barrett

(Vonore)

Jim Barrett and his wife, Cathy, proudly call Tennessee home since their move from Chicago in 2009. Cathy’s love for animals led her to become a dedicated volunteer at MCFA, where her passion for furry companions blossomed into fostering puppies in need. Jim, equipped with a BS in Business Admin and an MBA from Northern Illinois University, had a successful career at Lucent Technologies. Throughout his time there, he held management positions in various departments such as business planning, engineering, production, and distribution organizations. Beyond his professional achievements, Jim’s bravery shines through his service as a Vietnam vet, where he served as a buck Sgt paratrooper and received the Purple Heart. At Monroe County Friends of Animals, Jim and Cathy embody the true spirit of compassion and dedication, making a lasting impact on the lives of both animals and their human companions.

Ed Roeber

(Tellico Village)

Edward H. Roeber, a native of Emporium, PA, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Gannon University in 1967. He enjoyed a successful career as a healthcare executive and consultant specializing in finance and management for nonprofit hospitals ranging from 20 to 1,000 beds. In addition, he was Chief Financial Officer for several major health systems and related entities including Humility of Mary in Cleveland, OH; Mercy Health Partners in Cincinnati, OH and oversaw other health care related entities.

Ed held leadership roles in various professional and local nonprofit organizations’ boards and committees during his career. He is a past fellow in the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He was previously on the MCFA Board 2012-2018, serving as President for two of those years.

Deborah Smith

(Vonore)

Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Deborah relocated to Vonore in 2005 after retiring from her 30-year middle management career at Caterpillar Inc. Since 2007, when she became friends with our founder, Anja Hammersmith, Deborah has been actively involved with Monroe County Friends of Animals (MCFA). In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, she contributes to the Thrift Store, helps track and promote MCFA membership, and assists with special events. Deborah and her two cats, Dixie and JJ, who were lovingly adopted from our shelter, cherish their life in beautiful East TN.

Tom Smith

(Coker Creek)

Tom retired from the construction field in 2008, moved to TN in 2009. He got involved with the Monroe County animal shelter soon after. He has many talents for fixing things: He installed the shelter’s electric gate, built the puppy play yard, helped fellow volunteer Jim Barrett build the puppy house, and has spent countless hours cleaning cages and walking dogs. He also fills in at the MCFA Thrift Store when short-handed.

He currently focuses on shelter needs: general maintenance and maintaining the PetSmart transport van. In his spare time, Tom and his wife, Kathy also foster dogs –more than 300, so far. When asked why he volunteers with MCFA, Tom said, “Animal welfare is a priority for me.”

Marni Sorrick

(Madisonville)

Marni Sorrick, a retired commercial banker, made the move from Missouri to Monroe County, TN in 2018. Since then, she has found purpose in managing the MCFA Thrift Store, where she oversees a dedicated team of volunteers. With a passion for the community and a love for animals, Marni is a valued member of the Monroe County Friends of Animals. Alongside her husband Darrell, she cherishes the joys of camping with loved ones. In their rural Madisonville home, their furry and feathered family members include two dogs, two cats, four geese, and a small flock of chickens. Marni’s commitment to the well-being of animals is truly commendable, and her presence brings warmth and compassion to the organization.