"A Tear of Love is a Tear of Hope"

SPCA of TN
SPCA of TN
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    • Home
    • Donate
      • donations
      • Sponsors
    • Adopting
      • Forms
      • Dogs For Adoption
      • Help our cause
      • Why Dogs & Cats Do This
      • How to Train Your Dog
    • Fostering/Volunteering
      • Fostering a Pet
      • Your New Best Friend
    • Mission
    • Cruelty
      • Laws in Tennessee
      • Animal Cruelty
      • wild life and horses
    • Training Videos
    • Veterinary Services
    • Adopted Dogs
    • Animal Controls
    • Contact
    • Events
    • SPCA Staff
    • Surrender A Pet

  • Home
  • Donate
  • Adopting
  • Fostering/Volunteering
  • Mission
  • Cruelty
  • Training Videos
  • Veterinary Services
  • Adopted Dogs
  • Animal Controls
  • Contact
  • Events
  • SPCA Staff
  • Surrender A Pet

Animal Law Information

www.animallaw.info

These Tennessee anti-cruelty provisions define "animal" as a domesticated living creature or a wild creature previously captured. A person commits the offense of cruelty to animals (a Class A misdemeanor) if he or she intentionally or knowingly tortures, maims or grossly overworks an animal; fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in the person's custody; abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody; transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner; or inflicts burns, cuts, lacerations, or other injuries or pain. Animal fighting is also prohibited under this section, with dog fighting incurring a felony penalty and cockfighting resulting in a misdemeanor in most cases. A person commits aggravated cruelty (a Class E felony) to animals when, with aggravated cruelty and with no justifiable purpose, he or she intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal. Exclusions include animal farming, research, veterinary practices, hunting, trapping, "dispatching" rabid animals or wild animals on one's property, among other things.

Learn More

Learn about animal cruelty in the state of Tennessee and get more involved in protect animals in need in the state.

Find out more

Updated March 2022

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