Public Animal Sales
and Transfer Ordinance
MURFREESBORO
Why is this needed?
Murfreesboro has grown into one of Middle Tennessee's largest communities—and with that growth comes more animals. Today, animals enter the community through multiple channels, including retail pet stores, private transactions, and, according to reports we've received, parking lot sales.
Animals aren't products that can simply be returned when circumstances change. Consumers may not always know where an animal came from, how it was bred, what health care it received, or what happens when things don't work out. When there is little oversight around how animals are bred, sold, or transferred (including when they're given away) the consequences can ultimately fall on the community.
September 2026 - Free puppies in Murfreesboro parking lot
The issue isn't one seller, one business, or one type of transaction. It's the cumulative impact of animals entering our community—and what happens when some ultimately need somewhere else to go. Prevention means addressing the problem before an animal reaches that point.
This ordinance is designed to ensure that Murfreesboro remains a place where people want to live, raise their families, and invest in their businesses by promoting responsible practices, protecting residents, and preventing avoidable strain on local systems.
This ordinance:
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Protects consumers from unknowingly purchasing sick, misrepresented, or genetically defective animals offered by transient sellers.
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Protects animals by increasing deterrents for illicit breeders who raise animals in neglectful environments.
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Protects responsible breeders.
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Helps reduce the economic burden on local governments and nonprofits for animal control services and overcrowded shelters, due in part to reckless breeding.
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Reduces opportunities for transient dog sellers whose activities often intersect with other criminal activities (e.g., dogfighting and gambling).
Community FAQs
Have questions? You’re not alone. We’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions from community members and policymakers to provide clarity, context, and transparency around this effort. Click here to explore the FAQs, or click the image of the flyer.
Your Part
Our city leaders need to hear from you. Here's what you can do:
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Consider reaching out to your City Council members to voice your support and share why this issue matters to you. Personal stories can be especially powerful—whether you’ve struggled to surrender an animal due to limited shelter capacity, experienced illness after purchasing an animal from an informal sale, or seen firsthand how animal overpopulation impacts our community. Click the council member below to email them: Mayor Shane McFarland; Vice Mayor Shawn Wright; Councilmember Jami Averwater; Councilmember Madelyn Scales Harris; Councilmember Austin Maxwell; Councilmember Bill Shacklett; Councilmember Kirt Wade
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Download and share the ordinance flyer digitally.
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If you're a Murfreesboro resident, you can sign the petition below, in addition to sending an email to your city council members.
Click to download the FAQs sheet
Click to download the ordinance flyer
Ordinance Highlights
Prohibits the sale, transfer, display, and giveaway of dogs, cats, and domestic rabbits in outdoor spaces
Adoption events are authorized for animal shelters and 501(c)3 animal rescues
Prohibits the sale of dogs, cats, and domestic rabbits by a retail pet store
Transactions are permitted in private residences and licensed veterinary offices (with their approval)
Please share this information with neighbors, local businesses, and community groups, and stay informed. Together, we can help Murfreesboro move the needle on the animal crisis and build compassionate, responsible pet policy across the city.
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