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Read comments (20)Shelbyville's city council will consider an ordinance that would make it unlawful to display any animal in a public place with the purpose of giving them away or selling them, unless the person in question is a dealer.
The topic has arisen due to the continuing debate about animal control in the city. Animal control officer Randy McCullough told the council earlier this month that one of the sources of the dilemma surrounding stray dogs is the fact that the animals are given away at locations like Wal-Mart, only to be later abandoned when parents learn that their children have brought them home.
The ordinance would be based on a measure passed in Gallatin, but council members suggested replacing the words "cats and/or dogs" with "domestic animals" to close up any loopholes.
The Gallatin ordinance says the term "public places" would include, but not be limited to "shopping centers, storefronts, street corners, sidewalks and businesses other than pet shops open to the general public."
However, nothing in the ordinance would prevent a person who is not a dealer from selling or giving away cats or dogs they own from their own residence.
The idea appeared to have wide support from the council and also from members of the local Humane Association.
Diane Forbes of the organization said that local veterinarians are also in agreement with the idea of the ordinance, as well as support from management at Kroger and Wal-Mart.
"We really don't know where these animals are coming from," Forbes said. "We don't know what kind of health issues they may have."
Reputable breeders are not going to be selling their animals on street corners, she said, and added that the measure would be in the best interests of the public -- both safety and health-wise.
Both the city and county animal shelters are full and Forbes said it was a shame that the animals that are not adopted have to be put to death simply because no one will take the responsibility to spay or neuter their pets.
Since I thought this part was funny.
"We used the funds for "free" spay/neuter services for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals. The response was overwhelming."
Here's a thought, fix the real problem and the symptoms of it will disappear.
-- Posted by nathan.evans on Thu, May 1, 2008, at 2:33 PM
I agree with that too, Nathan. I definitely think the Bedford County/Shelbyville NEEDS a low cost spay/neuter program. We are trying to work on a way to remedy that problem too.
Back in 2003, SBCHA was awarded one of the animal friendly car tag grants. We used the funds for "free" spay/neuter services for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals. The response was overwhelming. We spay/neutered over 140 animals for free. That certainly adds up, when you consider how many unwanted pets we prevented. What we really need is the support of the community asking for these services.
We also still coordinate with Wilson County Humane Association's Spay Station to assist with low cost spay/neuter.
Years ago the county roads were full of stray dogs. I cannot begin to tell you how many we saved and found homes for. Since Walmart was built and animal owners started giving their little ones away, it does seem as if there are less puppies on the roadways. Could we not organize a week or month of reduced spay/neuter rates with our local vets like we do rabies clinics? It could be an annual thing like the rabies clinic and the crepe myrtle sale. With gas and food prices soaring, people will not be having their pets spayed or neutered at the prices the vets are charging. Nothing against the vets, everyone is charging more for everything these days, but we need bargains and specials sometimes. As for the DROWNING OF NEWBORNS, your comment disgusts me.
At present, I have 4 cute cats curled up on my bed, one is MIA somewhere in the house. I also have a cute pomeranian curled up under the bed. All SIX of these guys were dump jobs, as have been most of my critters. They have also all been spayed and neutered so that there will be no more unwanted animals. I understand the cost, but please get your critters fixed, cause my pocket book is getting a little thin. The one that was MIA showed up before I finished typing, so make that 5 cute cats on the bed, all spoiled rotten.
I took 7 kittens with me to the Little League baseball fields where there are 300 5-12 year old kids. They were all gone in about 35 minutes. there sure were a bunch of cryin young uns and mad mamas though.
GO TO THE NORMANDY TOWN SQUARE TO DEAL YOUR PETS.THERE IS ALWAYS SOME VEHICLE OR MOTORCYCLE SITTING ON THE NORMANDY SQUARE WITH A "FOR SALE"SIGN ON IT.I AM SURE A FEW DOGS OR CATS FOR TRADE WOULD BE WELCOME .THERE IS ALWAYS THE PARKING LOT AT NORMANDY DAM FOR A PLACE TO BARGAIN,TOO.GOOD LUCK.
If the animals dumped had a fighting chance at a good life,you might have a point.
Instead,their chances aren't much better than the baby left in a restroom's trash can versus the one left at the designated spot at a hospital.
Sure,either might get found by a sane and competent family and taken in but don't bet on it.
If the animal survives disease,starvation,exposure,predators and cars,it will grow up wild to create more homeless beasts and be a danger to itself and others.
Ask yourself which of these tragic and unnecessary deaths you'd prefer: *humane* euthanization or dying by inches from parvo,rabies,attacks from other animals,torture by criminal elements or any of the countless results of neglect.
Any of us might get "caught" by an unintended pregnancy but if lives are habitually born only to die of parasites or disease or be jettisoned at the nearest parking lot or roadside,them maybe it shouldn't be the critters who wind up with their heads in the bucket.
Perhaps,it should be the careless ones that have been keeping their heads in the sand.
My husband did not want the little black lab that me and the kids brought home from Wal-Mart. Huh, now she sleeps on his feet at the foot of the bed and he makes it a point to buy her puppy treats and chew toys!
The Humane Association and Animal Control folks are doing a great job in a very unpleasant field.
The next time your unaltered pet gets ready to give birth, get out a bucket of water. You can then quickly prevent the problem of having to sit in the WalMart parking lot 8 weeks later to give the critters away. A quick dunking shortly after birth will save a lot of time and pain later for the poor animals.
Until people are ready to take on all responsibilities for breeding their animals and finding safe long term homes for the offspring, they shouldn't do it. Same rule applies to human reproduction. If you can't pay, don't play.
nathan.evans~ At SBHCA we have had many dogs/cats surrendered to our care that were aquired in the parking lots. They get home with them and change their minds, Mom/Dad say no, etc. and/or they let them run loose. I know the city and BCAC have had the same thing happen.
-- Posted by cherylrichardson on Thu, May 1, 2008, at 12:04 PM
What does that matter? If people didn't have a location to find homes for unwanted animals won't they all end up at the animal shelter eventually? I am sure there is a significant number of animals picked up in parking lots that do end up in good homes. Enacting laws that needlessly restricts citizens that are simply trying to do the right thing and find homes for unwanted animals is not a solution to the greater problem. It appears to me that animal control is wanting to force all the unwanted animals to be sent to the shelter so they can be destroyed or adopted following the strict laws that you have posted which would indeed ultimately control the population. Still some people will not take unwanted animals to the shelter and will instead drop them off in the country somewhere to give them a fighting chance at life. Here's a thought, fix the real problem and the symptoms of it will disappear.
More adoption laws per the Tennessee Code Annotated explaining the "fees":
44-17-502. Requirement for adoption. --
(a) No person shall adopt a dog or cat from an agency, including, but not limited to, an animal shelter, dog pound, animal control agency or humane shelter operated by a municipality, county, or other governmental agency within the state, or a private organization operating a shelter from which animals are adopted or reclaimed, unless:
(1) The dog or cat has already been spayed or neutered;
(2) The dog or cat has been spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian while in the custody of the agency; or
(3) The new owner signs a written agreement with the agency stating that the new owner will have the dog or cat spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian:
(A) Within thirty (30) days of the date of the adoption, if such dog or cat is sexually mature; or
(B) Within thirty (30) days after the dog or cat reaches six (6) months of age, if the dog or cat is not sexually mature at the time of the adoption.
(b) Nothing in this section shall preclude the spaying or neutering of a sexually immature dog or cat at the discretion of a licensed veterinarian with the consent of the new owner.
[Acts 2000, ch. 789, § 3.]
17-502, or if the spaying or neutering is timely performed, but the new owner fails to request the return of the deposit within an additional ten (10) days after the date by which the spaying or neutering is required to be performed, the deposit shall be forfeited to the agency holding the deposit and shall be used by the agency to conduct programs to spay or neuter dogs and cats and/or to conduct educational programs in support of the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.
[Acts 2000, ch. 789, § 4.]
Where do you live that male pets don't get into fights,breed indiscriminately or get illnesses triggered or worsened by male hormones?
The same factors might work on men,as well.
Let's get the scientists looking into this!
BTW,I'd trust some of the folks hawking critters at Wal-Mart before I would the kind of stores that keep pet mills in business.
I'd make sure that no breeder or dealer transferred ownership of an animal without verification that all parties to the deal had decent facilities for the animals and that they would be maintained in a humane manner.
In addition to providing support for shelters,adoption fees and vetinary requirements discourage people from taking on pets they can't handle.
Imagine allowing human babies to be adopted with no birth certificate,no family history,no doctor visits required,no schooling,no investigation by human services and no legal acceptance of responsibility for those children's well-being.
When pets are viewed as property instead of thinking,feeling beings,the result is much the same.
Yes,there are a lot of people with limited income who would make great caregivers for any species.
Perhaps,they could get some kind of assistance to be foster parents for needy animals.
Like those for humans,they might adopt their charges later but,at least,they could insure that some animal without a proper family had adequate food and water,shelter,health care,training -and love.
If a person can't own a pet,maybe he could help socialize shelter beasts by playing with them,educating them,etc.
Maybe he could donate time,food,vaccinations to these "orphans" to get a taste of what ownership would involve before making a full time committment.
(Would you try to have a baby if you're unwilling to foster a youngster overseas or babysit a child you can turn back in a few hours?)
We need to make it easier for caring, responsible people to add to their families but we need to make it nigh impossible for people to get animals they're not equipped for or to churn out helpless beings with scant regard for their welfare,the well-being of their parents or the people who will take them into their homes.
If people had to show a breeders' license before they could transfer ownership of a pet they had raised,if they had to have properly inspected facilities,if no breeding animal could be under 2 or over 6,if no healthy,non-violent animal could be put down,if people had to buy a breeder's license to maintain an unneutered animal (medical exemptions available),MAYBE we'd have fewer unadopted or "unadoptable" animals to be gotten rid of.
I feel it should be okay to do this..Here is why I feel this way...If people want to give away or sell a dog or cat or rabbit they are going to do it no matter what some place or some how..I also feel that people give away pet's because their pet has gotten pregant by another pet when they did not want it to happen in the 1st place..So if they can not give the pet's away there is a good chance they will take them some were out in the country and let them out..I can not tell you how many times puppies have shown up in my yard. I know they have been dropped off out here...So we feed and water them until we can find a home for them...Alot of the people that get these pet's love and take care of them...It would be great if owner's would have their pet fixed if they do not want to have babbies..But alot of times they do not and here comes un-wanted babbies that they have to give away...It is not were people sale them or give them away..It all comes down to having your pet fixed if you do not want them to have babbies..If once or twice a year we could have a clinic that would fix your pet for half the price or even free would help out so much in all these un-wanted pet's..
nathan.evans~ At SBHCA we have had many dogs/cats surrendered to our care that were aquired in the parking lots. They get home with them and change their minds, Mom/Dad say no, etc. and/or they let them run loose. I know the city and BCAC have had the same thing happen.
I agree that people need to spay and neuter their pets. Our dog has an appointment in the middle of May for the Beesley Spay/Neuter Clinic in Murfreesboro. For our 9lb dog, it will only cost $60.
For male dogs, I think the prices start at $45.00. They also do the Home Again microchips for $10 plus a $14 activation fee.
Compared to the vets here in town, the Beesley Clinic is the cheapest as they are non-profit. I think they just opened up a new building, too.
I am worried that when you take away the places like Wal-Mart, people will resort to dropping off their dogs in stranger's yards.
What if the Pet Shop, on Lane Parkway donated there parking lot for the people that need to give away or sell their animals. Or maybe a vet could donate their parking lot. What if it was just on Saturdays only, or one Saturday out of the month?
Everyone needs to remember that the newspaper allows you to place an add for your pets. If you are giving away animals for free, then the add is free.
~~yerfdog It is required by Tennessee State Code for animal adoption agenices to require fees. These fees are to lawfully vaccinate the animals against rabies, spay/neuter fees (if the animal is already spay/neutered the adoption fees drop), food, vet care, and shelter upkeep.
68-8-104. Registration of cats and dogs -- Fees -- Rabies control program -- Vaccination required for registration. --
(a) In addition to, but not as a substitute for or in any way detracting from the vaccination requirements of this chapter, authorization is granted for the adoption of local laws or ordinances to require the registration of dogs or cats in counties or municipalities.
(b) Any local laws or ordinances implementing animal registration shall include methods for the collection of registration fees and shall require the expenditure of these funds to establish and maintain a rabies control program, also commonly known as an animal control program. In addition to various animal control activities, the rabies control program shall ensure that dogs and cats are properly vaccinated in accordance with this chapter and that biting animals or rabies suspects are observed or confined in accordance with this chapter and rules of the department.
(c) No dog or cat registration certificate shall be issued unless an unexpired certificate of rabies vaccination is exhibited.
**(d) All fees collected for registration shall become part of the county or municipality rabies control fund and shall be disbursed by the appropriate trustee in a manner prescribed by the local legislative body for the sole purpose of the payment of salaries, for the establishment and operation of an animal shelter, for the establishment and operation of an animal control program, or for other expenses incidental to the enforcement of this chapter in the jurisdiction to which the registration requirement applies.**
(e) Any funds remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried over to the next fiscal year, and its expenditure authorized by the local legislative body only for the purpose of rabies and animal control.
[Acts 2004, ch. 765, § 1.]
It is so expensive to get your pets fixed. I spent $220 two weeks ago on one female dog. Of course that was the surgery, bloodwork, pain medication and rabies shot. But, I have two more females and one male to take. That's a lot of money!
I don't think that people shouldn't be allowed pets just because they can't afford to get them spayed or neutered.
How is not allowing people to give away domesticated animals at the Wal-Mart parking lot going to help the animal control problem? The animals will continue to reproduce regardless and limiting the ways for people to find the animals a new home will cause many to resort to dropping them off at houses not in their own neighborhoods. We should be addressing the real problem, deadbeat owners that refuse to pay to have their mutts fixed.
well people would be willing to adopt if there wasn't a big adoption fee. What about a free adoption fee sometimes that way you will not have to put the animal to sleep. For example I have two dogs I would be willing to adopt another male dog to save it. Then I will have a adoption fee. Then I will have to pay for the dog to be fixed. Where I live I do not need to have it fixed though. Why can't I just save a animal from death without paying alot for it. Which is better saving it or you killing it??
Get your animals spayed and neutered!