Help put an end to irresponsible breeding in TN​
What kind of breeders are there?
BACKYARD BREEDERS
Backyard breeding refers to substandard breeding practices where dogs are not properly selected for genetic or behavioral qualities, are not properly socialized, and may be raised in poor conditions (think of it as a small scale "puppy mill.") This is usually done all in the name of making a profit, and this method may result in dogs with unpredictable behavior and aggression, as well as health defects.
Much different than a reputable breeder, a backyard breeder is often an unprepared, uninformed person who decides to give breeding a try. Oftentimes they don't have homes secured for the puppies before they are born, which contributes significantly to the overpopulation of animals we see today. In addition to the significant health concerns for both the mother and her litter, overbreeding is the primary contributor to the already significant numbers of unwanted companion animals, resulting in full and overcrowded shelters and rescue groups across America. Sadly, this leads to the euthanasia of thousands of healthy unwanted animals every year and an increase in animal homelessness.​​
In Tennessee, there are currently no breeding laws. The latest attempt to revive a former law was rejected in 2024.​
1%
The amount of puppy mills that are actually penalized by the USDA after being cited
COMMERCIAL BREEDERS
Commercial breeding is an environment where a high volume of animals are raised primarily for profit, and can include dogs, cats, and cattle. Commercial breeding facilities for dogs are also known as puppy mills, and those for cats are known as cat mills.
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HOBBY BREEDERS (the most responsible breeders)
Those referred to as "hobby breeders" are concerned about the future of the breed and pre-screen both the mother and father for genetic faults. They may also sell their puppies for money or other consideration, but they don't have an animal facility license. ​​
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So what was the penalty for someone who ran an illegal breeding operation? A person who knowingly engaged in the business of commercial dog breeding without being registered was punished criminally, with a violation being a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by fine only. A Class A misdemeanor carries fine of up to $2,500.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
On average, an animal shelter can expect to spend between $2 to $5 per day per animal on food alone. For example, this means that if Maury County Animal Services is housing 100 animals, food expenses can range from $200 to $500 per day, or between $73,000 and $182,500 annually. While that's a big range, even the lowest amount is a considerable amount of money needed to sustain the shelter's animals. As a tax payer, you are contributing to this.
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With a smaller pet population and less animals in the shelter, can you imagine what other things these tax dollars could go towards? Here are just a few examples...
24,000
The number of kids that could be provided free school lunches
730
The number of potholes that could be filled
1,200
The amount of packs of reversal spray provided to first responders
Actual costs will vary widely across regions.
Tennessee's Former Breeding Law
Tennessee's Commercial Breeder Act (Public Chapter 591 of 2009) T. C. A. § 44-17-701-715 (expired June 30, 2014) required the Department of Health to license and regulate individuals who kept 20 or more unsterilized adult female dogs or cats for the purpose of selling their offspring as companion animals. The act required commercial breeders to maintain and display licenses to operate.
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In 2021 Tennessee Senate Bill 511 (SB511) aimed to regulate commercial dog breeding but did not advance out of committee and was effectively put on hold. It would have required commercial dog breeders to register with the Department of Commerce and Insurance and it established inspection requirements, with violations being a Class A misdemeanor. The bill provided that, “Any person who, during a 12-month period, possesses or maintains 10 or more female adult dogs that are capable of breeding in this state at one time for the primary purpose of selling their offspring as household pets must register with the department of commerce and insurance as a commercial dog breeder.” The AKC actively monitored and opposed this bill.
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In 2024, HB 2938 and its companion bill, SB 2513 were introduced with the goal of creating a licensing process for commercial dog and cat breeders. These bills have been taken off notice in committee, making them unlikely to advance. The AKC has actively monitored and opposed this bill as well.
What we're seeing in Tennessee today is how backyard breeding can contribute to pet overpopulation – it produces produces litters without ensuring homes for the dogs beforehand. Additionally, the demand for puppies often exceeds the supply from reputable breeders and shelter animals are overlooked, leading people to purchase puppies from backyard breeders. This only enables the cycle of overbreeding and contributes to the growing population of unwanted and abandoned dogs in shelters. The results are overcrowded shelters and the euthanization of animals who are deemed "unadoptable." It's for these reasons that many suggest that backyard breeding is the biggest contributor to the unwanted pet population.
Number of unaltered female dogs In TN, a person can have up to 10 unaltered female dogs at one time (each year) without being penalized
Approximately double the amount of animals that enter a shelter are strays, as opposed to owner surrenders (often a result of overbreeding)
ENFORCING LAWS THAT ALREADY EXIST
Many don't know, but Tennessee has some laws in place that were created to help promote things like responsible breeding. The problem is, these laws aren't being enforced which means there may as well be no laws at all. For example, Maury County has zoning regulations that help protect the integrity of breeding operations – also known as "kennels."
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The Maury County Zoning Resolution defines “Dog or Cat Kennel” as "an establishment where dogs or cats are boarded for compensation or where dogs or cats are bred or raised for sale purposes or for animal rescues or are not for profit." While this doesn't specifically speak to those whose animals have had "accidental litters", if these zoning requirements (in Section 4.180) were upheld and facilities inspected, guilty parties would be subject to a Class C misdemeanor (a minor criminal offense that can result in up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $50). While this penalty may not be enough so stop anyone in their tracks, it does raise questions such as:
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Why aren't these zoning requirements being enforced?
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If they were enforced, could they help minimize the number of backyard breeders?
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Should the penalty for these particular zoning violations be increased?
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Before we figure out what laws need to be created or amended, we must first examine laws that are already in place, and understand why they aren't being enforced. After all, it would be inefficient to push for a law that would not be enforced at the end of the day.
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The biggest road blocks to change
"New research reveals that the American Kennel Club, a purebred dog registry organization that used to call itself 'the dog’s champion,' has opposed more than 450 bills that aimed to help pups since 2008. In 2023, the AKC has opposed at least 26 proposed bills in just the first six months of the year. These included several humane pet store bills that would have stopped the sale of puppy mill puppies in pet stores, and bills that would help facilitate intervention to seize dogs in suspected animal cruelty situations." -The Humane Society of the United States
Amish communities are known to be one of the worst offenders of puppy mills. Dogs and puppies are housed in extremely unnatural conditions and females are forced into continuous pregnancy until their bodies can no longer support it, at which point they're typically killed. Debarking, a surgical procedure that reduces a dog's ability to bark, is sometimes done to prevent detection in unlicensed Amish breeding mills. Since the Amish community is governed differently, the animals can’t be removed all at once like they would from a typical puppy mill. Instead, the mill owners are cited based on the number of animals they can breed. Excess puppies above that number are removed in small groups.
Simple ways you can help
1
Adopt from a local shelter or rescue
When adopting a puppy this way, you'll help decrease the overall demand for puppies which could help discourage the amount of active breeders. Plus, you'll have peace of mind knowing that they were responsibly cared for, and they'll likely have been sprayed/neutered and microchipped.
2
Report suspicious breeding activity
Signs of a backyard breeder include (but aren't limited to): no access to the parents, multiple breeds, lack of health guarantees, or allowing an adoption before the puppy is eight weeks old. If you suspect any of these things, call your local shelter right away. For more information about spotting a backyard breeder, here's a great resource.
3
Share this information with lots of people
It's hard to grasp idea of any irresponsible breeder. In fact, many of us turn a blind eye simply because we feel helpless. That couldn't be further from the truth, and even those who have no opinion about animal laws, should be educated. As taxpayers, your money is likely enabling a problem that we desperately need to fix.
Sources
https://www.adoptapet.com/blog/shelter-rescue/pet-overpopulation#what-causes-pet-overpopulation
https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/tennessee-breeder-bills-considered-tuesday-march-12-2024/
https://www.zippia.com/answers/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-an-animal-shelter/
https://harleysdream.org/puppy-mills-leading-cause-shelter-overpopulation-crisis/​​