Laws Saving Paws

10/14/2026

𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼, 𝘄𝗲'𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

Time and time again, community members have raised concerns about animals being sold or given away in public spaces around Murfreesboro, and rightfully so. We've also been aware of increasing activity, including reports of the same individuals selling animals weekend after weekend and even in some cases, animals appearing visibly sick.

After hearing from more and more residents who want to see something done, we're supporting an effort to establish stronger safeguards around the sale and placement of animals in the Murfreesboro community.

𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥?

The way an animal enters a community matters. Research has found that animals acquired without adequate planning can be at greater risk of later relinquishment, while animals sold through informal channels may lack vet exams, vaccinations, health records, or other important information.

This is 𝙣𝙤𝙩 just about where an animal is sold. It's about protecting animals, families, and the community.

Just as Columbia came together to advocate for change, Murfreesboro residents are now coming together to ask for something different... and we're here to support their effort.

We've put together a webpage with information about this initiative, answers to the questions we've heard, FAQs, and information for Murfreesboro residents who want to contact their city leaders.

👉 www.lawssavingpaws.org/murfreesboro

And this is just the beginning. Be on the lookout for more from us and others in the Murfreesboro community who are getting behind this effort.

10/11/2026

Supporting our service members means supporting the dogs that save them when they come home.

For some veterans, a service dog is a lifeline... helping them navigate trauma, regain independence, and live as normal a life as possible after experiences that can change everything.

These dogs don't just serve beside them. They help them come home.

So when we allow dogs to be exploited, neglected, abused, or treated as disposable, we're showing how little we value the lives of the very animals we're willing to call heroes.

We can't celebrate the dogs that save us while ignoring how we treat dogs when they're no longer useful to us.

We explored this in an earlier episode of The Bark: A Pet Podcast Unleashed, “A Lifeline for Our Heroes.” 🎙️

Click to listen to the episode, and stay tuned! You'll be seeing more of The Bark soon.

In this episode of The Bark, we spotlight the life-saving bond between veterans and their dogs — a partnership built on trust, loyalty, and healing. While our veterans step up to defend our country, countless dogs are stepping up to defend them right back, providing critical emotional support,...

10/10/2026

Since 2020, more than 1,000 animals have been documented in Tennessee hoarding cases, based on reports from Animal Rescue Corps, Tennessee animal-control agencies, and news organizations. (And that's just 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥.)

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀.

Sometimes it starts with an unplanned litter. Sometimes it's someone who already cares for more animals than they can manage, but keeps taking in more because their heart tells them to help. Either way, good intentions don't always equal the ability to provide adequate care.

We can't keep waiting for the next crisis to happen. We have to start addressing the conditions that create them.

So wake up. Pay attention. Get involved. Talk to your neighbors and friends. Share your concerns with local leaders. Ask what your community is doing, and what more can be done.

And if you want to help move the needle on Tennessee's animal crisis, we'd love for you to join us.

👉 Visit lawssavingpaws.org/getinvolved.

10/06/2026

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! 📣

Since LSP began, we've been working to create meaningful change for animals and the communities that care about them... building relationships, educating communities, advocating for stronger protections, starting important conversations, and pushing for prevention. Sometimes that work isn't the most visible, and that's intentional. What happens behind the scenes can be just as important as what we share publicly.

Absolutely none of it can be done without our supporters, and that's why we believe they deserve to know what their support makes possible. All of that can be found in our new Impact Report.

This report is about more than numbers. It's about the people, partnerships, conversations and opportunities for change that is impossible without you.

Every donation. Every share. Every helping hand. Every person who has opened a door or started a conversation. You helped make these two years possible. ❤️

Take a look at our 2024–2026 Impact Report and see what we've accomplished together, and where we're headed next.

Thank you for being part of LSP.

10/02/2026

A birthday gift that keeps giving! 🐾

We want to send a huge thank you to Stefanie G. for choosing LSP as the recipient of her Facebook birthday fundraiser, and also to everyone who donated to support her special day.

We're so grateful you thought of us and chose to turn a birthday celebration into something that helps animals and the communities they live in.

Thank you for helping us keep the work going! Every little bit helps us get important education into the hands of Tennesseeans.

09/30/2026

If you've been following LSP for a while, you may know that we also have a podcast. But if you're new here (or you've somehow managed to miss it ), we'd love to introduce you to 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗸: 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱.

The Bark gives us a chance to go a little deeper than we can in a social post. We sit down with different people, ask questions, have honest conversations, and dig into the issues surrounding animal welfare (plus the people working to make things better).

One of our earlier episodes was a conversation with .animal.alliance called “Together or Nowhere.” The idea was pretty simple: 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.

It takes shelters, rescues, advocates, communities, and individuals bringing their experience and resources to the table... and figuring out how to work together. Because there's DEFINITELY plenty of work to go around.

🎙️ Listen to “Together or Nowhere” and explore the other episodes of The Bark through the link in our bio.

And if you haven't followed The Bark before, you'll be seeing a little more of it around here. We're bringing the podcast home to LSP, so you'll start finding those conversations right here alongside the rest of our work.

Same Bark. New home.

09/28/2026

In 2022, Kelley Engel Gambill was convicted of aggravated animal cruelty after amputating an injured kitten's leg at home without anesthesia or appropriate veterinary care. The kitten later died. The court found that, although she said she was trying to help, the method she chose caused extreme and prolonged suffering. Her conviction was upheld on appeal.

Gambill was allowed to keep the two dogs already in her care, while being prohibited from possessing additional companion animals during her two-year probation.

𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘'𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗨𝗣: Tennessee law says that after an aggravated animal cruelty conviction, the sentencing court “shall” order the surrender and forfeiture of all companion animals and “shall” prohibit custody of companion animals for at least two years.

So... why didn't that happen here?

The court's decision doesn't explain why. And that's a question worth asking. "Shall” is one thing, but making it happen is another.

When animals are seized, someone has to house them, provide veterinary care and care for them while a case moves through the courts. That takes people, funding, and resources.

Behind the scenes, we're digging into questions like... Are our laws being applied as intended? Where are the gaps? And what would make accountability more effective?

Passing a law is only part of the equation. We need to understand what happens after the law is put to work.

👉 Read the full court decision — linked in our bio.

09/20/2026

Bell Buckle was HOT on Saturday. Like...questioning our life choices hot. ☀️

But we'd do it all over again for the people we met at Rhythm & Rescues, including some of the incredible difference-makers at Friends of Animals Rescue & Adoption Center - Lynchburg,TN and Paws Angels Dog Rescue.

We also had some great conversations with Murfreesboro residents about the 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 (yes, you read that right) retail pet store selling puppies that has now opened in their city, and why we dig our heels in about prevention.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲. Want to know what these stores can mean for animals and the communities around them?

👉 Take a look at our little reading material:https://www.lawssavingpaws.org/_files/ugd/ad9ec9_6ace6c771bbf4c3e855ddaf3b42e2fd0.pdf

We're so grateful for every conversation, connection, and new relationship. The animal crisis won't be solved by one organization. It takes entire communities working together to move the needle.

09/18/2026

Tomorrow we’ll be at Rhythm & Rescues in Bell Buckle and we’d love to see you there!

Come enjoy a day of music, community, and all things animal while supporting the organizations and people working to make a difference for animals in our communities. We’ll be there sharing more information about what we do, and why this work is needed now more than ever.

Stop by our booth, say hello, and chat with us about the work happening right here in Tennessee.

📍Bell Buckle
📆 Saturday, Sept 19
⏰ 11am - 3pm