Frequently Asked Questions
Learn the answers to some of the more frequently asked questions from the community
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What does Laws Saving Paws actually do?
LSP is dedicated to safeguarding the rights and welfare of animals through innovative legal reform and advocacy. We'll do this by empowering communities to make responsible decisions as pet owners, educating the public about the impacts of our animal overpopulation crisis, and work collaboratively with experienced people who can help get our message and requests into the hands of lawmakers.
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Why haven't I been asked to sign a petition or contact my local representatives?
Great question, and one that so many people have. If things like petitions and emails had a direct effect on changing laws, we'd be seeing a lot more of these things take place. The truth is that while community voices are important, so is data. Numbers. Case studies. It's critical that we approach these issues from creative and collaborative lenses. The folks in charge need to understand how things like animal overpopulation impact the foundation of a community – especially the economic part of it. We cannot effectively share this information without data to back it up, which is why we're doing our due diligence before asking for anything from our leaders. (And all of this research will help navigate us to what we need to ask for!) We understand that people are passionate about these issues, and passion is great! However, we can't let the noise of our passion be a distraction from what legislators and even community members need to know.
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What areas of Tennessee are you focusing on?
While LSP is based in Columbia, Tennessee, we understand and recognize the presence of the animal crisis throughout our state are focusing on many areas. Our goal is to have presence in counties all over Tennessee, which is why the relationships we build are so incredibly important.
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Would you consider yourselves similar to the animal welfare organization, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)?
Do both of our organizations share a passion for protecting our animals? Absolutely. While we understand the values of an organization like PETA, we also understand that it's important to take into consideration things like a community's culture, before insisting on any change. Our approach is one comprised of compassion and education. We believe that our ability to hear all voices – even those that may be unfavorable – sets us apart from other animal advocacy organizations.
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Where does my donation go?
Your tax-deductible general donation will be placed into a fund (unless you specify otherwise) that covers expenses related to sustaining our organization, increasing opportunities of outreach, and supporting spay and neuter efforts. There may be times when we fundraise exclusively for a cause, which we'll be very clear about when asking for donations.
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What's the best way I can help?
While it may not sound as glamorous as rescuing an animal or walking around a picket line, the most helpful thing you can do right now is to share the ins and outs of the animal crisis. Facilitate conversations about breeding and responsible pet ownership. We recognize the instant gratification may fall flat, but it's the true path to sustainability. Legal reform is our end goal but even a healthy amount of education (and behavior modification) may move the needle on the animal overpopulation crisis, as more people begin to understand the impact these issues have on every single person.
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Still have a question? Click here to contact us.