our mission
To advocate for better treatment of animals and reduce issues related to animal overpopulation, abandonment, neglect, and exploitation through advocacy, education, and reform—all while fostering a culture of compassion and responsibility.
How it began
"Five dogs out, six dogs in."
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Laws Saving Paws was crated in September 2024 when Founder, Meaghan Thiede, saw the effects of Tennessee's animal overpopulation first-hand while volunteering with her county's municipal shelter.​
Even with all of hardworking shelters and rescues throughout the state, the amount of animals needing homes continued to rise exponentially, and other ripple effects were becoming evident. Meaghan spent some time looking for productive efforts confronting the root of these problems, but didn't find anything that aligned with her vision. Months later, Laws Saving Paws was born into existence.
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The values of LSP are deeply rooted in values that align with Meaghan’s Christian faith—compassion, stewardship, and justice. Just as Scripture teaches us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8), we speak up on behalf of animals, working to strengthen protections and promote compassionate treatment through meaningful initiatives.
"Five dogs would be adopted one day, and six would come in the next day. It was discouraging."​
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-Meaghan Thiede, Founder
Here's what we'll strive to do​
​Facilitate respectful conversations that allow all voices and perspectives to be heard
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Work collaboratively to enact changes benefiting
citizens, pet owners, and the pets they love
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Develop creative solutions to issues that are impacting each and every one of us
Here's what we don't want to do​
​Advocate for anything before hearing a variety of perspectives
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Demand changes that jeopardize our right to make key decisions independently
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Ignore the opportunity to educate others about the impact of Tennessee's animal crisis
We've identified that animal overpopulation is the root of many issues affecting our pets and communities, making it our top priority. Here are some high level ideas we believe can help:
ADVOCATE FOR FOR A SYSTEM THAT PROMOTES ONLY RESPONSIBLE BREEDING
All roads lead back to our problem with irresponsible breeding, making it the foundation for better laws. We need to fight for things like stricter limits on unaltered female dogs a person can have at one time, the amount of times a female dog is permitted to produce a litter, and find ways to better oversee this activity better.
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MAKE SPAY/NEUTER MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
Not everyone wants to spay and neuter their pets, and we believe they have the right to that decision. However, we believe strongly in educating about why spay/neuter may be the right thing for their pet, and working with other organizations to create awareness and increase access to this.
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ADVOCATE FOR STRONGER PENALTIES RELATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE
This is a broad topic that has room to be improved and refined, including taking a closer look at the different types of breeding activity, and continuing to educate the public about animal cruelty. Currently, violation of these laws often carry the consequence of a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by fine only. A Class A misdemeanor carries fine of up to $2,500. We believe that under certain circumstances, offenders should be served harsher penalties, and finding ways to allocate government funding to support this.
Change doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and intentionality. With strong initiatives like rooted in education community relationships, we know that we can make a difference in our home state of Tennessee.