Puppy Kisses, Donuts, & A Heart Full of Gratitude 🐾🍩


Last month, my senior influencers and I went to Young-Williams Animal Shelter in Knoxville — and y’all, I think it’s the biggest animal shelter I’ve ever stepped foot in. From the moment we walked through the doors, the sound of happy barks and soft purrs filled the air (basically my love language).


We started our day visiting with some of the sweetest pups and kitties you could ever meet. We even got to take a few lucky ones outside for some fresh air and belly rubs… but then the sky decided to absolutely open up on us. When I say “the bottom fell out,” I mean it. 🌧 So, we moved our little party inside and kept right on playing — because rain can’t stop puppy love.


Now, this isn’t my typical “edit” or my usual style for indoor photos. I didn’t prepare like I normally do for indoor lighting, and honestly, we were just winging it. But the point wasn’t perfectly posed, picture-perfect shots. It was so much more than that. The goal was to dive deep into our community’s needs — and right now, animals are at the top of that list.


And because every good day deserves a little sugar, we celebrated Lulu’s birthday the right way: with Krispy Kreme donuts. Pretty sure the staff thought we were part sugar, part chaos, but they welcomed us with the biggest smiles. Speaking of the staff — they were amazing. They gave us so much insight into what goes on behind the scenes, shared stories about the sweet animals that come through their doors, and even told us all about their volunteer opportunities.


Here’s the thing — Young-Williams isn’t just an animal shelter. They’re a nonprofit organization working around the clock to care for animals in need. They offer spay and neuter services, take in animals from all kinds of situations, and are even in critical capacity right now. That means they’re asking for help — and there are so many ways to give it:


🐾 Foster – Open your home temporarily to a pet in need.

🐾 Adopt – Give them their forever home.

🐾 Donate – Every dollar helps provide food, medicine, and care.

🐾 Volunteer – Whether it’s walking dogs, cuddling kittens, or helping at events, your time makes a difference.


Oh — and one of the coolest things? You can take a dog on a Doggy Day Date! That means a shelter pup gets to enjoy time outside the shelter, and you get the best day ever with a four-legged friend.


If you’ve been looking for a way to give back, I can’t recommend them enough. The animals are precious, the staff is wonderful, and the need is real. Let’s help them keep tails wagging and paws dancing. 💛

A German Shepherd dog stands in a backyard with trees while being photographed next to someone in denim shorts.
A German Shepherd mixed breed dog with brown and black fur wearing a blue collar stands on grass looking at the camera.
Group of friends laughing while doing cartwheels together on a grassy hillside.
A brown mixed breed dog sits in a grassy backyard next to someone while trees and shrubs line the background.
Tan mixed breed dog wearing blue leash and purple collar looking attentively at camera while standing on grass.
Two people in athletic wear pose outdoors on grass with a friendly tan-colored dog in a natural garden setting.
A large black and white dog sits on grass with its owner on a summer day in a backyard setting.
A black Great Dane dog plays and jumps up with owner in a wooded outdoor setting.
A black and white spotted dog poses outdoors on grass with someone kneeling beside them.
Interior room decorated with dark and mocha tones featuring comfortable seating arrangements and modern decor.
People walking down a hallway with lime green walls in a modern building interior.
Students study at desks in a classroom with lime green walls and bright fluorescent lighting.
Someone works carefully on creating a sculpture or art project in a studio space with lime green walls.
A close-up view of kennel cages in an animal shelter facility.
A sequence of candid moments showing two people interacting playfully together in a room with green walls.