Better Boards Campaign
A push to instate Community Board guidelines for all Tractor Supply Co. locations
Background Information
Tractor Supply is an active participant in animal welfare efforts. They have partnerships with organizations like Miranda Lambert's MuttNation, host adoption events for local shelters and rescues, and their pet supply store, Petsense, donates significant funds and products through special events.
We’ve identified a system-level misalignment that’s quietly working against the efforts of advocates and rescues across the country. Most Tractor Supply locations also have community boards, serving as local hubs for flyers, events, and neighborly notice. Unfortunately, this area has also become prime real estate for breeders to post advertisements for their puppies, many of which are bred irresponsibly. How do we know these are irresponsible breeders? They contain red flags such as no health testing proof, inability to meet parents/see living conditions, rushed sales, no contracts, multiple breeds, missing vet records, and suspiciously low prices. (To learn more about the difference between a responsible and irresponsible breeder, click here.) While we understand these boards are meant to serve local communities, allowing such flyers can unintentionally contribute to the very overbreeding and animal welfare issues that Tractor Supply actively helps combat. It feels contradictory to see support for adoption and responsible pet ownership alongside postings that promote unregulated breeding practices. Tractor Supply Co.’s in-store community boards are intended to support local connection, but without clear, consistent guidelines, some boards are being used to advertise puppies in ways that may raise concerns for animal welfare.
Let's play devil's advocate: Suppose a flyer giving away free puppies was posted by someone who took in a stray, pregnant dog that soon had a litter of puppies (not an irresponsible breeder). While we'd love to see this person to find a home for each of these puppies, giving them away, unfixed and likely without conducting a background check, those puppies can very easily end up back in the cycle that prompted this community member to post the flyer in the first place. We need to stop the leak and unfortunately, that likely means that not all animals find themselves in situations we'd love for them.
The Ask
We're requesting that TSC reviews and/or updates its community board policy to restrict or monitor the posting of advertisements related to puppy sales. Even a simple guideline encouraging adoption, spay/neuter, or responsible breeding practices could make a meaningful difference. It won't solve our animal crisis but it can help move the needle and create significant awareness among a key player of the animal welfare industry, moving us one step closer to a cultural transformation.
What This Does
Irresponsible breeders will continue to breed as long as they can find homes for their litters, profit or not. The smaller the pipeline, the more difficult time irresponsible breeders will have finding homes for their puppies, forcing them to discontinue their practices or act with more caution. With no breeding laws in place in Tennessee right now, this is one (seemingly) small gesture that can ignite a transformation.
Click here to learn more about how animal overpopulation impacts our communities.
We reached out to TSC and received a response from their Customer Solutions team indicating that they are reviewing existing community board guidelines to better align with their support for shelters, rescues, and responsible pet care. Additionally, MuttNation thanked us for the information. In the meantime, we're encouraging supporters to participate through this mailed letter-writing effort directed to TSC leadership—a proven way to influence corporate policy change.
What you can do
Be a part of our letter writing campaign.
Studies show that mailed letters have stronger impact than emails.
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