the issues
Most roads lead back to animal overpopulation, making it a top priority
Follow the arrows
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We could dedicate 24 hours a day and seven days a week to law reform for better animal protection, and we wouldn't make a dent. A critical step of reform is education and we can't expect people to advocate for change unless they understand the impact. The silver lining in all of this? Our animal issues are interconnected, meaning that resolving one (animal overpopulation) is likely to reduce the others. Just follow the follows in the graphic and you'll see how cyclical these problems really are.
Animal overpopulation affects everyone
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Learn how the surplus of animals in our community impacts each of the demographics below. (If you're viewing this on a computer, hover over each box to reveal the impact.)
You're likely to come across a stray animal on a walk, in your yard, or on a stroll through the park. This poses a potential health risk to you and your pet, and can increase anxiety about your own pet's safety.
Pet owner
Spread of diseases, livestock numbers, and crop damage are just a few of the ways that stray animals can have an effect on farmers and their crops; stray animals are a result of the animal overpopulation.
local farmer
Animal shelters and rescues are constantly operating at capacity, filled with unwanted, lost, or homeless pets. Burnout has become the "norm" and 15 million animals are euthanized in shelters each year.
shelter &
rescue staff
Stray animals can create food competition among wildlife, driving them into neighborhoods to eat. Strays can also damage local habitats and increase the spread of disease throughout communities.
nature lover
Animal overpopulation can lead to millions of dollars in costs for tax payers each year. The more animals a municipal shelter has in its care, the more funding needed to cover that care, which is allocated from tax payers.
tax payer
A high volume of animals needing care can often lead to increased workloads and emotional stress for veterinary staff. The country's shortage of veterinarians only exacerbates the issue.
veterinary staff
A True Lack of Resources​
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Many don't realize this, but nearly one third of Tennessee counties are lacking a municipal shelter. Most of the poorest counties in Tennessee have no animal control or shelter system. There is no law that says a county has to have animal control or a shelter, which can leave some counties without animal services, and ultimately leaves animals without support. Adding insult to injury, law enforcement for animal issues is the downfall of rural communities. We hear of there being no regulation of the leash law, which creates an increase in stray animals. Are you wondering how this affects you if you don't live in a rural area? Well, guess where these stray animals are going if picked up by a good samaritan? They're being transported to other Tennessee counties—who are already struggling to support their own animal problems.
Municipal Shelter
Dog-only municipal shelter
Shelter run by nonprofit No ACO, no municipal funding
No Municipal shelter
Data provided by
1. Lake County
2. Dyer County
3. Obion County
4. Weakley County
5. Chester County
6. McNairy County
7. Decatur County
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8. Wayne County
9. Lawrence County
10. Hickman County
11. Houston County
12. Stewart County
13. Canon County
14. Smith County
15. Jackson County
16. Clay County
17. Overton County
18. Pickett County
19. Morgan County
20. Scott County
21. VanBuren County
22. Grundy County
23. Sesquatchie County
24. Meigs County
25. Polk County
26. Cocke County
27. Hancock County
In 2017, the Leaf Chronicle published a story revealing the problems facing rural Tennessee areas, due to their lack of animal shelters. The problem is that this situation has only gotten worse.
What we're seeing
Irresponsible Breeding
Irresponsible breeders significantly contribute to our animal overpopulation epidemic, and often prioritize profit over the well-being of the animals they produce. These breeders often ignore essential practices such as genetic health screening, proper socialization, and responsible mating, leading to a proliferation of health issues and behavioral problems among their offspring. Because of this, many dogs and cats end up in shelters when they are not sold or when their new owners can't manage the consequences of poor breeding practices.
Spay and Neuter Access
Spay and neuter are both critical to combating animal overpopulation, as they significantly reduce the number of unwanted litters born each year. When pets are not sterilized (ie. fixed), they can contribute to a rapid increase in the animal population, leading to overcrowded shelters and a higher number of euthanizations. Spaying and neutering can help maintain a healthier pet population, improve the overall welfare of animals in our community, and enhance the health and behavioral well-being of pets. The road block here? There's an extremely limited amount of low-cost spay/neuter clinics which means that even responsible pet owners are waiting months for this surgery.
Animal Abandonment
Animal abandonment, a product of animal overpopulation, has increasingly become a pressing issue in recent years, accelerated by factors like economic hardship, changes in social behavior, and the overflowing capacity within shelters and rescues. Additionally, impulsive adoption decisions (which are easily accessible online) result in regrettable decisions, with many owners unprepared for the long-term commitment required. Making this issue even worse is that if an unaltered has been abandoned, the odds of that animal reproducing in the wild is extremely high. We need change now more than ever.