Laws Saving Paws

06/16/2026

Last Days to Support Our Nashville PSA Campaign! 📣

The ball's rolling on our humane education campaign, and we're entering the final days of fundraising.

Over the next three months, we'll be placing 20 public-facing PSA-style messages in establishments across Nashville to help raise awareness about Tennessee's animal welfare challenges and encourage responsible, community-focused solutions.

Thanks to the support we've already received, we're getting closer to making this project a reality, but we still need help crossing the finish line.

For businesses, a $100 sponsorship includes your logo featured on one of the campaign ads as a community sponsor. It's a meaningful way to support Tennessee animals while demonstrating your commitment to the community.

Not a business owner? You can still help. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us expand our educational outreach and bring these important messages to more people throughout Middle Tennessee.

To support the campaign, visit www.lawssavingpaws.org/donate and write "Nashville" in the donation comments, or send us a message to learn more. Business sponsors will be contacted to provide a high-resolution logo and approve the final creative before publication.

Sponsorship opportunities close soon, and once the campaign goes to print, we'll be unable to add additional logos.

Thank you to everyone helping us bring this project to life and create a more informed, compassionate Tennessee! 🐾

06/14/2026

What a great day at the 8th Annual Blueberry Bash at Highland Realm Blueberry Farm on Saturday! 🫐

As we continue expanding our outreach into more rural communities across Tennessee, this event was the perfect opportunity to connect with some truly wonderful people. We had the chance to share our mission with so many attendees, answer questions about our work, and even catch up with a few familiar faces we've met along the way.

We're also thankful the rain held off for most of the day. The humidity, on the other hand, made sure nobody left without a complimentary steam treatment.

(The last photo is reflective of the types of pets we do support selling at markets – we couldn't resist sharing it!)

Events like these remind us why community engagement is such an important part of what we do. Meaningful change starts with conversations, and we're grateful for every person who stopped by our booth to learn more about animal welfare issues in Tennessee.

We're excited to continue getting out into communities across the state. If there's a community event in your area where you'd like to see LSP bring educational resources and outreach, let us know. We'd love to hear from you!

06/12/2026

It’s official! Yesterday evening, the Columbia City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale or giveaway of domestic animals in public spaces, which should take effect later this summer. The ordinance was ultimately supported by the Chief of Police, our local shelter, and approved unanimously by Council.

Work like this takes time, resources, and a shared commitment to finding solutions that serve the community. We're grateful for the opportunity to work alongside city leaders throughout this process, as well as working with other organizations and advocates who provided unwavering support.

We'd also like to thank everyone who engaged in the conversation... whether you supported the ordinance or shared concerns, we believe every conversation is an opportunity to not just educate, but also to learn.

And to everyone who took the time to contact City Council: thank you. We heard directly from city leaders that constituent outreach was impactful, and it helped keep this issue front and center throughout the process.

LSP is incredibly proud to call Columbia home. This ordinance reflects a community that is willing to act and address root problems that grow into larger challenges for animals and people alike. You can find the full ordinance here: https://columbiatn.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1771/files/attachment/27142

Today, we're celebrating this milestone, and tomorrow we continue the work... helping other communities explore solutions that reflect their unique needs, just as this ordinance was designed to reflect Columbia's. If you'd like to explore similar protections where you live, we'd love to connect.

06/09/2026

Pssst... did you know we have a podcast?

If you crave content that's equal parts educational and entertaining (a passion for animal welfare is optional), we'd love for you to check out The Bark: A Pet Podcast Unleashed.

Our latest episode, Monkey Business: From Play to Policy, features:
✅ A special guest named Monkey
✅ A game of Animal welfare-themed "Would You Rather?"
✅ A behind-the-scenes look at local ordinance work
✅ At least a few moments that made us question our own answers

We believe animal welfare conversations don't have to be boring, overly technical, or even doom-and-gloom. Sometimes they're thoughtful, and sometimes they're even funny. Sometimes they're both!

So if you've got a little bit of time to spare, grab a coffee, take the dog for a walk, or pretend you're working while listening to an episode. We won't tell.

🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗗𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧 🚨

This episode has a little bit of everything: questionable life choices, local government, and a dog named Monkey.

In Episode 19: Monkey Business: From Play to Policy, we put ourselves through a round of Would You Rather? and honestly... we're not sure we came out unscathed.

The answers may surprise you. Or make you uncomfortable. Or both. 😬

We also dive into our latest ordinance work and why local laws matter more than most people realize. Because while state and federal headlines get all the attention, some of the biggest wins for animals happen at the local level.

And of course, we welcomed a very special guest: Monkey 🐶... who brought absolutely no policy expertise but plenty of charm.

🎙️ Listen now and let us know:

👉 How would YOU answer our "Would You Rather?" questions?

🎧 Listen now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts:
👉 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗲: www.youtube.com/-LSP
👉 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲: https://linktr.ee/thebarklsp

06/09/2026

A farmer shouldn’t have to absorb the costs of unplanned litters and breeding practices that contribute to stray and feral animals. 🚜

Once they enter that population, the consequences can extend far beyond shelters and neighborhoods, affecting livestock, property, and public health. These impacts contribute to an estimated $620 million in annual damages across the United States, according to research cited by USDA Wildlife Services.

Working dogs and other protective measures play an important role on many farms, but prevention remains the most effective solution.

When we address animal overpopulation at its source, we aren't just helping pets... we're investing in the well-being of Tennessee communities, farms, and families.

We believe animal welfare and agriculture have more in common than people sometimes realize. If you're a Tennessee farmer who's dealt with stray or feral dogs, we'd be grateful if you'd share your perspective. Leave a comment or send us a DM.

06/05/2026

We recently had a conversation with local artist Mike Brennan about AI and its growing impact on the creative world. As he shared some of his concerns, we were struck by how familiar they sounded.

"More content just for increased output's sake is just more. Not necessarily better. There's a lack of cost involved usually and therefore it feels less valuable."

While Mike was talking about art, we had an "A ha" moment when we realized it sounded a heck of a lot like animal welfare.

When producing something becomes easier, faster, and more profitable, quantity can begin to outweigh quality. And when that happens, it's often easier for individual lives to be overlooked.

Every day, we see the consequences of a system that allows animals to be bred, bought, sold, and replaced with little thought given to the lifelong commitment they require. Too many animals end up abandoned, surrendered, or euthanized when they become merely inconvenient.

Different issue. Different industry. But the underlying concern felt surprisingly similar: when something becomes abundant and easy to produce, it seems to have become easier for people to undervalue it.

What are your thoughts?

06/05/2026

06/02/2026

Summer Fest recap! ☀️🐾

We had a great time at Belle Meade Historic Site on Sunday (even with a brief downpour into the mix!) Thankfully, the rain didn't stop the conversations.

One of our favorite parts of the day was meeting people from outside Tennessee and talking about animal welfare. The good news? We're seeing more awareness, more engagement, and real momentum for change in our state. (We're not kidding!)

We were also excited to meet the volunteers and therapy pups from Music City Pet Partners, sneak in some horse petting (a definite highlight), and connect with so many people who care about making Tennessee a better place for animals and our communities.

Huge thanks to the Belle Meade team for having us and helping us raise awareness about how all of us can be part of the solution.

Next stop: the Hampshire Blueberry Festival on June 13th! 🫐

05/30/2026

For our visual learners... what stands out to you about this map?

Take a look at where affordable spay/neuter services exist in Tennessee, and where they don't.

One thing that immediately jumps out to us is the lack of affordable options across much of West Tennessee. This is significant because West Tennessee counties, on average, experience higher poverty rates and lower household incomes than other parts of the state, meaning many families may already face greater barriers to accessing veterinary care.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.

Do many people consider spay/neuter part of responsible pet ownership? Absolutely. But veterinary costs have risen dramatically in recent years, and a surgery at a private veterinary clinic isn't always financially realistic for every household. Spay/neuter is one of the most effective ways to reduce animal overpopulation, but access isn't always as simple as telling people to "just get it done."

At the same time, access is only one piece of the puzzle. There is little value in expanding services if 1) people don't understand why they're important, and 2) if there are no veterinarians to perform the surgeries. There are many layers to this issue, and we believe in using education to drive all of it.

Real progress happens when advocates work together to fill both gaps. We truly value working with groups like Spay Tennessee (who originally created this map) so that together, we can tackle affordable spay/neuter services for underserved communities, increase outreach, and work towards enhancements to legislation. All of these are necessary if we want lasting solutions.

If you're looking for affordable spay/neuter options, visit spaytennessee.org to learn to find resources near you.

👇 What stands out to YOU when you look at this map?