🚨Abandonment is now illegal in Tennessee, but it still happens.🚨
This week, we found cats left outside our gates, scared, confused, and alone. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon for shelters across our country and state. As of July 1, 2025, abandoning an animal is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, and a felony if it happens again.
We know that life can be hard, and sometimes people feel like they have no other option. We also recognize that the need in our communities is often greater than what shelters like ours can provide. But even then, abandoning an animal is never the answer. Abandoning a pet puts them and the community in immediate danger, spreads disease, and makes it harder for shelters to give them the care they need.
There’s a safer, more humane way: surrender an animal responsibly. Contact your local shelter and share important info about the animal so they can give them the best care and help them find a loving home, all while following the laws within their county and state.
At NHA, we aim to keep pets with their people whenever possible, offering programs for food, training, vet care, and more, no shame, just support. So please be humane. Be responsible. Reach out before abandoning a pet.
👉 Visit our resources page to learn what to do if you’ve found a stray or lost pet, or if you need to rehome a pet.
