our story
We're on a journey towards change and we're not backing down
"Five dogs out, six dogs in"
Laws Saving Paws was established 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 failed to find a good fit for what she was looking to do. Recognizing this void and the critical need for change, Laws Saving Paws was born into existence.
​
The values of Laws Saving Paws 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."​
​
-Meaghan Thiede, Founder
Here's what we'll strive to do​
​Facilitate respectful conversations that allow all voices and perspectives to be heard
​​
Work collaboratively to enact changes benefiting
citizens, pet owners, and the pets they love
​
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
​​
Demand changes that jeopardize our right to make key decisions independently
​
Ignore the opportunity to educate others about the impact of Tennessee's animal crisis
We believe that animal overpopulation is the root of many of our issues today, making it our top priority. We've got some ideas that could help change this:
ADVOCATE FOR FOR BETTER LAWS THAT PROMOTE 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 regulate these violations better. Did you know that in Tennessee breeders who sell more than one litter of puppies per year must be licensed as a dealer and be inspected by the state? If this was upheld, our problem may be smaller. We need stronger enforcement, even if that means recruiting help from the community.
1
2
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 in educating folks about why spay/neuter may be the right thing for their pet and working to create better access to this procedure. We can't expect laws to be put in place if we don't create a pathway for people to succeed as responsible pet owners.
3
PUSH FOR HEAVIER CONSEQUENCES AS THEY RELATE TO ANIMAL WELFARE
This is a broad topic that we need to improve and refine. We need to redefine what "illegal breeding" is and continue to educate the public about what animal cruelty is (did you know that even animal abandonment is considered animal cruelty?). Currently, violation of these laws carries 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 these offenders should be served harsher penalties, even if that means finding a way to reallocate money in order for this to happen.
Change doesn't happen overnight, especially when it comes to legislation. With with great perseverance and action like petitioning, educating, fundraising and connecting with the community, we know that we can make a difference in our home state of Tennessee, and beyond.