When Sonia Young, Chattanooga’s Purple Lady, passed away on December 22, 2022, McKamey Animal Center lost one of its oldest and dearest advocates. Sonia was instrumental in the creation of McKamey Animal Center, and served MAC and its mission, Saving Animals, Helping People, every day. She often called her dog Cheerio, adopted from MAC, her “McKamey Miracle,” but to us she was a miracle in her own right.

In Sonia’s memory, we are honored to launch MAC’s new Purple Paw Society, designed to keep Sonia’s commitment to the animals alive by supporting a new and innovative program expansion every year. This new giving society is something that Sonia always envisioned and shared with our staff on many occasions.