Reducing the number of abandoned animals
Why is this happening?
It would be unrealistic for us to expect that animal abandonment could be completely eliminated. Even if the pet population was at an all time low and shelters and rescues at minimum capacity, there will always be someone, somewhere that abandons their animal. ​Did you know that Tennessee law prohibits anyone from doing this? Though difficult to regulate, an act like this is unlawful.
According to Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-14-212, a person commits the offense of animal abandonment if they knowingly abandon an animal in any place without making reasonable arrangements for its care. This offense can result in criminal charges and potential penalties.
The primary cause of animal abandonment is the result of completely full shelters and rescues. With limited places to for an owner to safely surrender their animal, we're seeing an abundance of animals left at a home when their family moves away, animals "dumped" in public and secluded areas, and even animals being re-homed recklessly to people who have ill intentions. As new housing continues to pop up all over middle Tennessee, landlords are tightening their pet restrictions which 1) is forcing owners to give up their animals, and 2) reduces the amount of people who are permitted to adopt. These two scenarios keep our shelters and rescues full and, as it's been stated many times already, a full shelter or rescue means that these animals have nowhere to go.
TOP REASONS FOR ANIMAL SURRENDERS
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"Too many animals" 16.1%
"Housing" 13.7%
"Non-aggressive behavior issues" 7.8%
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Abandonment and reckless re-homing happens when shelters and rescues are full
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Do you enjoy community events that take place outside? An increase in stray or roaming ("free range") animals could create a massive liability for an organization that wants to hold an event in a public place. Do you enjoy seeing wildlife on your property? Stray animals can compete with wildlife for food and water, straining local eco-systems. Do you wish you had more predatory animals in your neighborhood? Stray animals can attract wild predators, like coyotes and foxes, into your local area.
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This affects all of us.
How you can help
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As we work hard towards changing the animal laws of Tennessee, we must rely on one another to hold these offenders accountable. Here are some things you can do in the meantime to help minimize the cases of animal abandonment (though it's important to remember that because of our full shelters, often times Animal Control Officers have nowhere to bring these animals):
1) Keep an eye on a recently vacated home, especially if the former residents moved suddenly. Animals die every year when people move out of their residences and simply leave the animals behind. Sometimes an abandoned dog's barking or cat's howling can alert the neighbors. If you find or know of abandoned animals, contact your local animal control agency immediately.
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2) Report any animals being dumped from vehicles. If you happen to see this and you're able to note the license plate number, notify local law enforcement and provide them the vehicle information. If you're unable to secure vehicle or license plate details, check for security cameras that may have recorded the crime. The more that we're able to report and apprehend these people, the sooner people will realize this is unacceptable.
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3) If you know of an animal at large that isn't being claimed by its owner, report it to your local authorities. Tennessee law prohibits a dog to go uncontrolled by the owner upon the premises of another without the consent of the owner of the premises or other person authorized to give consent, or goes uncontrolled by the owner upon a highway, public road, street or any other place open to the public generally (TN Code § 44-8-408).