I was looking up pet laws in my state tonight.  It amazes me that I see these laws broken every single day.  Whats the point of making the laws if the state isn't or can't enforce them?  The laws are pretty clear cut, but there is no money to fund the enforcement of them here.  We have the 2nd highest sales tax in the country (9.25%), property taxes, wheel tax, business tax, yearly tags and licensing, gas tax, cigarette tax, federal income tax, social security tax, soon to be state income tax, and if it was legal there would be a tax on the taxes.  We also just got our own lottery system 2 years ago.  All of the proceeds from the lottery go into scholarships for colleges.  I am all for education, but you know......would it have killed them to take 2% of the lottery money and use it to help fund animal programs and enforce the laws?

It just seems like no one who is in charge of spending the states money ever thinks about the animals anymore.  There have been so many compassionate people start volunteer organizations that the state doesn't see a 'reason' to distribute funds their way because everyone who has a heart is volunteering.  What happens if the volunteers run out?

Tennessee's TennCare (Medi-Caid) system has been shut down.  Many of the kids I helped were low income and on TennCare.  It is a state law that any child under the age of 18 be covered by insurance and if they can't afford it, TennCare will cover it.  They are now kicking children off TennCare left and right.  The reason for this is because dis-honest doctors have been charging triple the amounts of patients care to TennCare because they knew they would get paid.  TennCare is now bankrupt and had to shut down until a budget can be set.  I know TennCare has nothing to do with pets, but it just angers me when a state legislature can't figure out the basics of how to run the freakin state, but they can vote to give themselves pay raises every year.

Our Animal Control Center has also been shut down due to lack of funds....but guess what?  The legislators got a 5% pay raise last year and a one time 'bonus'.  Our former governor has been indicted numerous time for embezzlement, other members of legislature took vacations on state money and just last week another state representative was found to have used tax dollars to pay for his daughters high profile wedding.  When does it end?

Sorry to ramble on, but it just gripes the heck out of me to know we have innocent lives being affected (pets and kids) and the tax money that is supposed to support them is being used to better the life styles of those in power.

I'm sure Tennessee isn't the only state where this happens. 

TENNESSEE LAWS:

The laws on the books regarding animals can be looked at two ways, what the State of Tennessee declares and also the particular ordinances that the various Counties have as well. Counties are free to enhance, or strengthen, our State laws, but they must abide by them. Counties cannot ignore State laws (such as the "at-large or leash" law). This information covers only the local ordinances of Nashville, TN (Davidson County).

• A veterinarian must vaccinate dogs and cats over 6 months of age annually for rabies.
  
  
  
• If you own a dog over 6 months of age you must obtain a $4.00 license annually. It is issued when your dog is vaccinated for rabies. The license comes with a tag that must be attached to your dog's collar and is required by law to be worn at all times.

• Either Animal Control or the Police may pick up all dogs running "at large". A dog is considered "at large" when it is off the property of the owner, not accompanied by the owner, or under the owner's control by command or leash.  (That last part of the last sentence {underlined} HAS to be a mis-print)
  
  
  
• If a dog or cat has bitten someone or is suspected of having rabies, this pet must be confined and isolated for a period of 10 days at the Metro Animal Control facility, a veterinary clinic or commercial dog kennel. You will be required to pay for all costs associated with boarding your pet.
  
  
  
• Hybrid animals such as wolf-dog mixes or domestic/wild cat mixes cannot be legally vaccinated for rabies. While owners of these animals should be encouraged to vaccinate their "wild pets", they should also be aware of the legal implications should this animal bite someone. Please contact SAAW via our email address at laurie@fixyourpet.org if you would like more information regarding the issue of wild/domestic animal mixes.
  
  
  
• Both our State Law and our local City Ordinances prohibit cruelty to animals. This law defines (in part) animal cruelty the following way:
  
  
  
  
  
  • No person shall overdrive, overload, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance or cruelly beat or mutilate or kill any living creature.
    
    
    
  • No person shall willfully set on foot, or move to carry on, or promote or engage in, or do any act toward the futherance of, any act of cruelty to any animal.
    
    
    
  • A police or animal control officer may lawfully interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in their presence. No person shall interfere with or obstruct any such officer in the discharge of this duty.
    
    
    
  • No person shall carry in or upon any vehicle any creature in a cruel or inhumane manner.
    
    
  
  
• All dogs and cats must have access to proper shelter, clean food and water, and have basic veterinary care.
  
  
  
• Abandoning a domestic animal is illegal. If you can no longer keep your pet, you are responsible for turning it over to an animal control facility, an animal shelter or veterinary clinic or finding your pet another home. And do your pet a big favor by making sure the new home will be responsible and committed to the lifetime of your dog or cat by asking for references and checking them out. And please, NEVER adopt out an animal that has not been spayed or neutered.