Tennessee Laws Going Into Effect For Proper Care Of Outdoor Dogs

Tennessee laws go into effect July 1st setting specific standards regarding what is adequate shelter for outside dogs.

Putnam County Animal Shelter Director Jennifer Tracy said the new laws are a good thing because it establishes a definition of adequate shelter and leaves less room open for interpretation.

“Some people’s Idea of adequate shelter and other people’s are very very different,” Tracy said. “So having something defined certainly makes it easier to enforce and to take corrective measures, whether it’s by a citation or whatever if necessary.”

Tracy said the laws require shelters for outside dogs to all be enclosed with a roof, access to food and water, proper shade in the summer and bedding in the winter, and a solid sanitary surface with space for sleeping.

“Some people think if a dog can get under a deck that’s adequate shelter,” Tracy said. “Under the previous law maybe they could have got away with that, but they wouldn’t under this.”

Tracy said what the Putnam County Animal Shelter recommended for adequate shelter before the legislation passed was consistent with the new laws. She said the new laws are logical common sense things to expect of people who take care of animals.

“It’s for the safety and comfort of your pet, that’s the whole key to it,” Tracy said.”If you can’t bring them in the house, you want to protect them from the elements as best as you can.”