Tennessee State Pets

Adopted Dogs & Cats

(C. l. familiaris)
(Felis catus)

Adopted on April 29, 2014.

Dogs (C. l. familiaris ) and cats (Felis catus) adopted from Tennessee animal shelters and rescues were designated the official state pets of Tennessee when BILL HASLAM, GOVERNOR signed SENATE BILL NO. 1495 on  April 29, 2014.

Tennessee State Pets

Tennessee legislators recognize the importance of spaying and neutering pets. More than 30 million puppies and kittens born in the U.S. each year, and only one in 10 finds a permanent home, according to the American Humane Association.

The uncontrolled breeding of cats and dogs in Tennessee has led to unacceptable numbers of unwanted dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens; and communities throughout Tennessee and across the nation spend millions of dollars to control the population of unwanted animals; and irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks; and stray pets and homeless animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs

The animals themselves suffer privation and death, are impounded, and, sadly, most are destroyed at great expense to local governments; and this deplorable state of affairs could be virtually eliminated in Tennessee if every Tennessean spayed or neutered their pets.

Spaying and neutering pets can help them lead longer, healthier lives by reducing the incidence of a number of difficult or expensive to treat health problems such as cancers affecting the reproductive organs; and spaying and neutering have many positive benefits to the pet owner as well; spaying and neutering make pets more affectionate companions, make cats less likely to spray and mark territory, eliminates the heat cycle in dogs and cats, and make animals less likely to bite, roam, run away, or get into fights; and every cat or dog who dies as a result of pet overpopulation, whether humanely in a shelter or by injury, disease, or neglect, is an animal who, more often than not, would have made a wonderful companion if given the chance.

Tremendous as the problem of pet overpopulation is, it can be solved if each of us takes just one small step, starting with not allowing our animals to breed; now, therefore, that in recognizing the importance of spaying and neutering pets, we strongly encourage all Tennesseans to be responsible pet owners and spay and neuter their pets.

STATE SYMBOLS

Colorado was the first state to designate shelter dogs and cats as state pets. Eleven states have state dogs, and three have state cats.

Shelter dogs and cats will join several other creatures as Tennessee state symbols

State of Tennessee House BillL No. 1406

SENATE BILL 1495
By Campfield
HOUSE BILL 1406
By Dunn
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, relative to state symbols.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, is amended by adding the following as a new, appropriately designated section:

4-1-334.
Dogs and cats that are adopted from Tennessee animal shelters and rescues are designated as the official state pet.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

State of Tennessee Senate Bill No. 1495

SENATE BILL NO. 1495
By Campfield, Ford, Kyle, Summerville
Substituted for: House Bill No. 1406
By Dunn, Lynn

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, relative to state symbols.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, is amended by adding the following as a new, appropriately designated section:

4-1-334.
Dogs and cats that are adopted from Tennessee animal shelters and rescues are designated as the official state pet.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

ADDENDUM TO SENATE BILL 1495
This bill has an effective date of April 28, 2014 in accordance with Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee.

Taxonomic Hierarchy: Dog

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: C. lupus
    Subspecies: C. l. familiaris

Taxonomic Hierarchy: Cat

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
    Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
    Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Felis
Species: F. catus