The Chattanooga Humane Educational Society and radio station KZ-106 are teaming up to honor the memory of KZ-106 radio personality and animal lover Kelly McCoy, who died March 22 at age 58.
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From noon-5 p.m. Saturday, McCoy's birthday guests can come out to the humane society at 4155 Randolph Circle for "Kelly's Rock On Adopt-a-thon." Jeanine Cloyd, the community outreach and education manager for the humane society, said in a news release the event honors the longtime partnership McCoy worked to build with the rescue.
"Everyone who knew Kelly or listened to her show felt the undeniable love she had for shelter dogs," Cloyd said in a phone call. "I met her years ago when we hosted huge offsite adoption events. She would come out with the KZ-106 truck, hand out drinks to all the volunteers and always call me at the end of the weekend to ask how many animals found forever homes; she was the real deal."
It was those weekend adoption events that inspired McCoy to launch "Kelly's Pet Projects" with KZ-106.
"Kelly would invite a representative from [the Humane Educational Society] out with a dog that was available for adoption every week during her show," Cloyd said. "We would record videos in her office that the station ran on their website, and Kelly would also do the audio that aired during her program. She always had her own bag of treats and loved taking the dogs around the office."
Scott Chase, program director at KZ-106, added that while McCoy made numerous charitable contributions during her life, the biggest place in her heart was for helping animals find homes.
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"She placed hundreds of pets into homes in Chattanooga through Kelly's Pet Projects - one a week for over a decade," he said in a phone call. "I worked with Kelly every day for 37 years, and while losing her was hard, we came together at the station and thought one of the best things we could do would be to tap into something that was vital to her: the animals."
During Saturday's event, adoption fees will be waived for all adult dogs, which includes those ages 6 months and older. As the theme is "Kelly's Rock On Adopt-a-thon," Cloyd also said staff members may come out dressed in their best rock 'n' roll getups.
"And it's going to be an annual event that's celebrated each year on May 21, Kelly's birthday," she added. "Looks like we'll be rocking out for years to come."
KELLY'S ROCK ON ADOPT-A-THON
WHEN: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday.WHERE: Humane Educational Society, 4155 Randolph Circle, Chattanooga.MORE INFO: Adoption fees waived for all adult dogs. Apply to adopt at heschatt.org/dogs or stop by the event.
KZ-106 will also be onsite throughout the event playing music and sharing updates on the animals to be adopted, and, for a donation, the station will be giving out commemorative pawprint stickers that feature some of Kelly's favorite quotes. All proceeds go to the humane society.
"We're doing this not only to celebrate and honor Kelly, but to continue the work of placing pets in homes that's so important," Chase said, noting that KZ-106 will also continue airing Kelly's Pet Projects during midday programming.
People can apply to adopt online at heschatt.org/dogs, and all adoptions include spay/neuter, rabies vaccine, DAPPv and Bordetella vaccines and microchip, according to a news release.
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"Wouldn't it be amazing if all the people who loved Kelly chose to love an animal in her honor? I can't imagine a better way for us all to remember her than to open our hearts and homes to a shelter pup," Cloyd said.