Tag: Animals

Animals, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Environment, Farm Life, farming, Food, horse, outdoors, Sustainability, Uncategorized

Fertile Land

Written by Zoie Denton

Melissa Shepherd, Head of Operations at Quail Run Farm in Chattanooga, Tennessee, speaks about how the farm uses regenerative practices and gives back to the soil. The animals contribute to the farm’s practices by rotationally grazing and naturally fertilizing the soil.

On the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, nestled in the mountains and valleys, lies 80 acres of rolling green pastures and bustling farm life. Quail Run Farm, one of Lookout Valley’s most well-known farms, is a living example of regenerative agriculture. Bought in October of 2022 by Joe and Rachel Riley, Quail Run has turned this beautiful countryside from a quiet homestead to a community-driven ecosystem of animals and hospitality. 

Melissa Shepherd, head of operations, sits at the on-site farmer’s market. Stored inside were products like farm-fresh honey, eggs, and meat. Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Photo by Angelina Fraga.

“There weren’t any animals here at the beginning,” said Melissa Shepherd, Head of Operations. The land has transformed into a vibrant working community. It offers pasture-raised meats, locally grown produce, and honey—all cultivated with sustainable, regenerative practices.

Shepherd is originally from Yorkshire, England, and joined Quail Run through a program called Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) while traveling through the US.

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Animals, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Environment, outdoors, Sports

Climbing Companions

Written by Addison Middleton

Emily Pinson, an avid climber, takes her cat Suki bouldering with her. She adopted her cat from the Humane Society with the intent of training her to climb.

While breathing in the crisp air of the outdoors, Emily Pinson makes sure to grab her climbing shoes, hand chalk and crash pads before she and Suki, her loyal climbing partner, head out into the woods together. Pinson swings her bags over her shoulder, and tosses her companion up in the air to sit perched atop of the supplies because although Suki is an avid adventurer, she is also a cat. 

Pinson’s love for the outdoors and the activity of bouldering began years ago. This subset of rock climbing has allowed her to build a community through the shared love of the sport. She began her climbing career in highschool at indoor climbing gyms, and decided to venture further by starting to climb at outside destinations a little over a year ago. 

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Animals, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Diversity, Environment, Family, Love, outdoors

Ferret Ambassador

Written by Lexi Foley

Turbo stares at passersby in Coolidge Park. Sunday April 7, 2024. (Photo by: Lexi Foley)

It was an average Chattanooga afternoon for six-month-old Turbo as he scurried across the walking bridge, chasing each new scent. Rays of sunlight fought to peak out of the clouds as a hawk flew through the sky. Turbo flicked his black and white head forward and backward as he followed the hawk’s flight pattern. A group of bicycles came rolling across the bridge, stealing the young ferret’s attention for just long enough before a collection of teenagers strolled past him. 

His noodle-like body winded like a river as he explored one of Chattanooga’s most popular attractions: the Walnut Street Bridge. The bridge is one of many spots Turbo will visit throughout the year, along with pop-up markets, Rock City, the Commons, etc. Since he was adopted in October of 2023, Turbo has become a beacon of light for anyone willing to stop and say “hi”. Although Turbo was adopted by owners Jonah and Kat Aberle to be a public service to the greater Chattanooga community, the Aberles originally got a ferret from their local PetSmart for their college home in Cookeville.

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Animals, art, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Dance, Diversity, Entertainment, Environment, Family, Health, Love, Music, outdoors, Sports, Uncategorized, UTC, women

Rising Rock Radio Showcase
Graphic by Kylee Boone

Rising Rock is excited to showcase some of our best audio stories in a continued partnership with Scenic Roots. To listen to Scenic Roots, visit https://www.wutc.org/scenic-roots.

Tiny Bailarinas

Ava Nessell spoke with Wendy Reynoso, the student success and services coordinator at La Paz Chattanooga, about her experience finding a community in Chattanooga after immigrating from Guatemala. 

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Animals, Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, donate, Environment, Family, Food, Healing, Health, History, Love, outdoors, Philanthropy

Protecting Pets

Written by Olivia Smith

Alyssia Rich, left, trims Terri Greer’s dogs nails during a routine free pet food & supply delivery to a local neighborhood. Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Photo by Noah Camacho)

McKamey Animal Center is ten miles from Alton Park, one of the poorest zip codes in Tennessee. The Center is a thirty-minute drive but without other means of transportation, a three-and-a-half-hour walk, one way. 

During MAC C.A.R.E.S grand opening, Heather Hensley, the Community Solutions Manager at McKamey said, “Being at MetMin [Metropolitan Ministries] is such a big relief, we are closer to Alton Park and other populations that are looking for this assistance… We can spread the love so much better by being here with MetMin.”

In late January McKamey Animal Center and Metropolitan Ministries Impact Hub partnered to open MAC C.A.R.E.S Center. Located at 4001 Rossville Blvd., less than two miles from Alton Park. 

The grand opening being at noon, staff spent their morning giving pet supplies to people in need.

“More than half of MetMins clients have pets, they were already talking about this,” Hensley said. “As we were unloading food this morning people were coming to us, so we were giving it out.” 

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Animals, Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, donate, Family, Health, Love, Uncategorized

McKamey Trailblazers

Written by Ali Lemmons

After walking around campus, Becky Grose scratches Blue’s ears. Blue was a shelter dog at the time of this photo. Grose introduced him to many other students on campus. Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Photo by Ali Lemmons).

Becky Grose, a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, did not know her day would be filled with walks, car rides, and belly rubs—that is, until she found herself checking out a dog named Blue at the McKamey Animal Center.

Blue is just one of more than 100 dogs at the McKamey Animal Center patiently waiting for their forever home. The shelter is so overcrowded that they are currently operating over their maximum capacity, according to the center’s website.

While they wait, dogs can quickly become stressed and overwhelmed in the crowded shelters. Luckily, the staff at McKamey provide a great solution—the Trailblazer program.

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