In 1964, Margaret B. Mitchell co-founded the Bristol Humane Society with a simple, unwavering belief: animals deserve care, compassion, and a better future. She served as president for many years, advocating for their well-being across our community. When she passed away at the remarkable age of 102, she left a generous portion of her estate to further the cause she held so close to her heart.
That gift became the foundation for something extraordinary. In 2005, the Margaret B. Mitchell Spay/Neuter Clinic opened its doors — the first of its kind in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
With a small team, a big dream, and the blessing of Margaret’s legacy, the clinic began providing affordable, accessible services that would go on to change tens of thousands of lives. From the first surgery performed by Dr. McCall to the familiar sign that once stood out front, the journey has been one of steady, heartfelt progress. Over time, we added low-cost vaccination clinics (2015) and essential wellness care (2022), steadily expanding to meet the needs of pets and their people.
Now, twenty years later, we’re turning the page toward an even more impactful future. We’re building on Margaret’s legacy—literally. Through our Building Hope campaign, we’re preparing to grow into a new, modern facility with expanded parking, increased surgery capacity, and wellness services offered five days a week.
This first section of “Humane Horizons” pays tribute to where we’ve been.
Continued, you’ll find a BRIGHT vision of where we’re going.
From humble beginnings to a groundbreaking future…welcome to the journey ahead!
WE’RE BUILDING HOPE
Expanding to Meet Community’s Needs
What’s always been a staff parking lot will soon become a modern, high-capacity spay/neuter clinic, allowing us to perform more lifesaving surgeries each day. Our newly expanded Wellness Clinic will open five days a week, providing affordable veterinary care to pets who might otherwise go without. We’re also adding 50 much-needed parking spaces, making visits easier and safer for staff, clients, and their animals. That’s not all! The new facility will also house an improved free Pet Food Pantry and a Community Education Room for training, learning, and connection. Together, these additions are more than just square footage. They’re a foundation for a more compassionate future.
LETTER FROM OUR LEADER
Dear Friends,
I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with you—Bristol Humane Society has officially broken ground on our long-awaited expansion! This is more than a construction project. It’s a new chapter in our mission to provide affordable, compassionate veterinary care and to tackle pet over population across our region.
Thanks to your continued support, we’ve reached this incredible milestone. The expansion will allow us to increase the number of spay/neuter surgeries we perform and extend our wellness services from just two days a week to five. We’re also building a much-needed, larger parking area to better serve our growing community of pet owners.
This groundbreaking is symbolic in more ways than one. It marks the beginning of a new era—not only in our physical space, but in the reach and impact of our work. Our team envisions a future where fewer animals enter shelters, fewer pets go without care, and more lives are saved. This project brings us closer to that reality.
Of course, the work is far from done. This expansion is just the beginning, and we need your help to see it through. As we move forward with construction and growth, we invite you to remain part of this journey. Every gift, every word of encouragement, and every shared belief in our mission fuels this progress.
Thank you for standing with us and helping us build a healthier, more compassionate community.
With gratitude,
Dr. Jennifer McCall Ketron, DVM
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GOAL UPDATE
Thanks to you, our incredible supporters, we’ve raised $4 million toward our $5.5 million Capital Campaign goal! Your generosity is turning blueprints into real impact: more spay/neuter surgeries, more days of wellness care, and more support for families who want to do right by their pets.
We’re closer than ever, but this is the moment to make your mark. With your help, we can finish strong — and stretch even further to build a future where no one has to choose between their pet and caring for their family. Together, we’re not just helping animals, we’re lifting up the people who love them.
Join us as we “CLAW our way to the top!”
Together, we are making sure pets stay with the families who love them.
Existing Food Pantry
Future Community Pet Food & Supplies Pantry
At Bristol Humane Society, we believe that no family should have to surrender a beloved pet simply because they can’t afford food or basic supplies. That’s why we launched the Community Pet Food and Supplies Pantry — a vital resource helping keep pets and their people together, even during tough times.
What began as a few donated bags of food tucked into our lobby has grown into a full-fledged program saving lives across our community.
By offering pet food, cat litter, treats, collars, and other essentials at no cost, we are directly preventing unnecessary surrenders and reducing shelter overcrowding and ultimately, lowering euthanasia rates.
Thanks to incredible community support, our pantry shelves are rarely empty for long. But with the need growing every day, we’re expanding!
Humane Training & Education Are High Priority
Existing Lobby
Future Training Room
At Bristol Humane Society, education is key to building a more compassionate community for animals and the people who love them. Part of our expansion is a Community Education Room designed to hold 35+ people for staff meetings and other gatherings.
Until now, our staff meetings and educational programs have taken place wherever we could find room, often around folding tables in the clinic lobby.
Soon, the awesome new Community Education Room will give us a dedicated space to offer professional development for our staff, host public gatherings, and bring people together to learn about animal welfare and responsible pet care.
Together, the Pantry and Education Room represent more than just new walls. They are tools to help us build a stronger, more compassionate community, one pet and one person at a time.
A Bond Beyond Words: Kenneth and Amy’s Story
At first glance, Kenneth might seem reserved, but once we got to know him, we learned about his extraordinary journey and the loyal companion who’s never left his side.
Kenneth has lived much of his 65 years on the move, a self-described nomad, born and raised in Bristol. One day, he met a man with a litter of puppies needing homes. From the squirming bundle, he chose a black puppy with bright eyes and named her “Amy,” after a song that was special to him.
Amy grew up sharing every part of Kenneth’s life. She camped with him, swam in rivers, went hunting, and even learned to carry her share on backpacking trips. All these years, they’ve been an inseparable pair, each other’s only constant in the world.
As Amy aged, her health began to slip. When she started struggling to hold her urine, Kenneth knew she needed medical help but finances stood in the way. That’s when he turned to us.
Thanks to the compassionate care and expertise of our team, we were able to provide the care Amy needed to feel better for a while longer. More recently, Amy developed a tumor on her side. Kenneth was hesitant and understandably afraid of putting his aging companion through surgery. Together, we talked through the risks and possibilities. We were able to safely sedate Amy and remove the tumor, which sadly, turned out to be cancerous.
Kenneth takes care of us, too! Almost weekly, Kenneth visits the clinic to tend to our landscaping, keeping the weeds pulled and the trees healthy. During the spring and summer Kenneth brings fresh veggies from his garden for us to enjoy. If you visited our clinic in the fall you might have noticed a beautiful harvest display out front, all thanks to Kenneth’s work taking care of every detail from getting the items donated to removal at the end of the season.
We meet clients every week, almost daily, that need help to care for their four-legged loved ones. They’re why our work at Bristol Humane Society is so urgent. As the only low-cost veterinary facility in the region, we must find ways to care for the people and animals in our community.
Stories like Kenneth and Amy’s are not rare, they’re just often unseen.
Our expanded facility will allow us to say “yes” more often. Every day, our team is faced with choices: pets in crisis, families struggling, and limited space and time to respond. Our capital campaign is about creating the capacity to serve more people and pets, more compassionately and more consistently. Kenneth and Amy’s story reminds us that it’s not just about the animals, it’s about the bond they share with the people who love them.
Today, Amy moves a little slower, but she’s still Kenneth’s shadow. Every day they have together is a gift and every moment of that gift was made possible by the kind of compassion that quietly works behind the scenes—your compassion.
Not every story makes headlines. But they’re the reason we’re here—and the reason we must grow.
Gifts of Love
Giving in Honor, Memory, and Celebration
Ways to Give Today
- By Mail or In Person: Bristol Humane Society, 16222 Lee Hwy, Bristol, VA 24202
- By Phone: Call 276-591-5790 to make your donation
- Online: Visit bristolhumanesociety.org/building-hope
- Scan this QR code to go straight to our donation form
Make a Reoccurring Gift or Monthly Pledge
You can choose to give monthly, quarterly, or annually to fit your budget while supporting lasting change.
Leave a Legacy
Consider one of the following ways to make a long-term impact:
- Name Bristol Humane Society in your will or estate plan
- Make us a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, retirement account, or savings account
- Donate stocks, securities, or property
Naming Opportunities Still Available
Leave a lasting legacy by naming a space in our expanded facility.
Contact us at info@bristolhumane.org or call us for more information on any of these giving opportunities.
Honorarium Gifts
- In Honor Of “Callie” and “Mittens” – Beulah Beavers
- In Honor Of Andrew Williams – Matthew Williams
- In Honor Of Ann Tickle – Sid & Joyce Oakley
- In Honor Of Ann Tickle’s Birthday – Sid & Joyce Oakley, Ron & Joan Guest, Dianna Jackson (2024), Dianna Jackson (2025)
- In Honor Of “Bruce, Pete, Fred and Smoke” – Robin King
- In Honor Of Edith Millard – Creed Allan Lewis(3/2024), Creed Allan Lewis(12/2024)
- In Honor Of Fran Combs – Robert Roberts
- In Honor Of Ivy Gambrel – Pamela Hearne
- In Honor Of Janet Walter’s Birthday – Alice Hoffstatter (2024), Alice Hoffstatter (2025)
- In Honor Of Jeanne Powers – Elizabeth Fuller
- In Honor Of Kindig Siblings – Karl & Rhonda Kindig
- In Honor Of Marcia Dempsey – Kathi Boatright
- In Honor Of “Millie” and “Murphy” – Bill & Julie Brown
- In Honor Of Rebecca Davenport – Debbie Snyder
- In Honor Of Sandy McGlothlin – Debbie Snyder
- In Honor Of Elliott Moore – Debbie Snyder
- In Honor Of John and Ann Tickle – Nancy DeFriece
- In Honor Of Jane Toothman – Nancy DeFriece
- In Honor Of Rene Rodgers – Mary Jane Miller
- In Honor Of Tonia Kestner – Mary Jane Miller
- In Honor Of Audrey Allen and In Memory “Henry” – Debbie Sydow
- In Honor Of William Allen and In Memory Of “Trix” – Debbie Sydow
- In Honor Of Teresa and “Vernon” – Kenny Dockery
- In Honor Of Sandy McGlothlin – Debbie Snyder
- In Honor Of Elliott Moore – Debbie Snyder
- In Honor Of Sharon Green – Elizabeth Elliott
- In Honor Of Susan Taylor – MaryLynn & Rusty Barnes
Memorial Gifts
- In Memory Of “Arnaud” – Bill & Brenda Johnstone
- In Memory Of “Bear” – Robin Pennington
- In Memory Of “Cherokee” – John & Ann Tickle
- In Memory Of “Clyde” Blair – Candy Worrell. Lucyann Jewell
- In Memory Of “Killer” – Linda Lawson
- In Memory Of “Lacey Ann” – Joy Smith-Briggs
- In Memory Of “Nicklaus” Tickle – Dianna Jackson
- In Memory Of “Opie”- Pearl E. Outlaw
- In Memory Of “Red Fred” – Gail & Gerald Miller
- In Memory Of “Susie” Herndon – Ronald & Robin Booker
- In Memory Of Angela Berke – Nita & Ronald McCready, Sharon Harper. Jim & Jane Berke
- In Memory of Arthur aka “Pinchy” – Janna Icenhour
- In Memory Of Arthur Bagnall – Cathy & Jerry Farmer, Anne Wallace, Isaac & Anne Webb, Carolyn Ward, United Steeleworkers Local 9-677
- In Memory Of Gregory Bennett – Susan & Andy Taylor
- In Memory Of Brad Bacon – Alan & Mary Bacon
- In Memory Of Charline Johnson – Holly Booth
- In Memory Of “Chester” – Debbie Quillen
- In Memory Of “Cooper” – Robby & Jeannie Stallard
- In Memory Of “Daisy” – Lindaq Neff
- In Memory Of Debbie Turner – Jim & Jane Berke
- In Memory Of “Clyde” Blair – Ann & Charlie Christ
- In Memory Of “Max” Christ – Ann & Charlie Christ, Thelma Blair
- In Memory Of “Heiress” and “Whiskey” – Thelma Blair
- In Memory Of “Bertie” Christ – Thelma Blair
- In Memory Of “Cosette” – Thelma Blair
- In Memory Of “Izzy” Coffman – Thelma Blair
- In Memory Of Delta Purkey – Rachel Beasly, David Newton, Nicholas and Marilyn Federici, Wanda Payne, Ellen Barker, Kathy Roberts, Rye Cove High School Class of 1962, June Chard
- In Memory Of Diane Ball – Chuck & Jean McCort, Jr., Walter & Kathy Panek, John & Julie Dombroski, Charles & Mary Stallard, Joanne Monhollen, Terry & Dianna Stevens, Jeannette Ralston, Thomas & Gladys Gilliam, Eugene Skates, Catherine & Harry Sweazy, Matthew Casella, Rita Concepcion
- In Memory Of Dr. John Johnston – Stephen & Sallie Hodges
- In Memory Of Dr. Tom Green – Ashley Terrell, Sherry Phillippi, Robert & Jayne Ukrop, Charles & Kathy Cantrell, Sandy Tucker, Rebecca & Tom Davenport
- In Memory Of “Ginger” and “Hidey” – Natalie Miller
- In Memory Of Glenna Warner – Susan & Andy Taylor
- In Memory Of Grainger Hudson – Amelia Jarrard
- In Memory Of Harold Eugene Russ – Carol Propst
- In Memory Of “Ike” – Tom & Elaine Griffin
- In Memory Of Jan K. Patrick – Roger Patrick
- In Memory Of Janiece Hughes – Jennifer Ketron, Susan & Andy Taylor
- In Memory Of “Jasper” – Tanya Robinson
- In Memory Of Jesse A. Jones – Vicki & Glenn Myers, Sandra Cook, Teresa Harless, Eugene Maddox, Noro-Moseley Partners, Christy Eige, James & Madolyn Norton, Mr. & Mrs. William Donaldson, Lesli & Carole Hudson, John & Luan Con, Brian Connor
- In Memory Of JoAnn Crockett – John & Ann Tickle
- In Memory Of Lonnie Pyatte – Electro-Mechanical Corporation
- In Memory Of Mickey Hoge – Mimi Tilley
- In Memory Of “Molly” – Cleve & Becky Anderson
- In Memory Of Charline Johnson – Holly Booth
- In Memory Of Nathan ‘Buster’ Lawrence Hart – Nancy Adams, Kathy Moore-Baker
- In Memory Of Lola – Cheri Taylor
- In Memory Of Patricia Gail Boatright – Kelly Charapich, Bill Swofford, Tim Brown, Girls Inc. of Bristol, Amber, April, Lauran (Golden Girls), Sherry Baumgardner, Wanda & William Carter, Jr., Phillip Swofford
- In Memory Of “Player” – Paul & Kelly Read
- In Memory Of Robert Blevins – Mimi Tilley
- In Memory Of Sophie – Bill & Brenda Johnstone
- In Memory Of Suzanne Hutton – Cina & Donald Adams, Paula Matzner, Washington Chapel UMC, James & Suzette Hodges, Cathy R. Gibson, John B. Dellis, Jr., Kay Vicars Busby, Phyllis M. Hutton, Rotary Club Of Washington County, Lewis Spicer
- In Memory Of Terry Berthold – Strongwell
- In Memory Of Tommy Lynch – Jimmy & Elizabeth Arnold
- In Memory Of “Jackson” – Paul & Kelly Read
- In Memory Of “Wally” – Paul & Kelly Read
- In Memory Of Jerry Ivey – Emory & Carolyn Hale
- In Memory Of Kathleen Swain – Emory & Carolyn Hale
- In Memory Of Leighton Maye – Mimi Tilley
- In Memory Of Ronnie Solomon – Mimi Tilley
- In Memory Of Devere Hutchinson – Drew McCoy & Amy Aquino
