Animal Control (Rabies, Euthanasia, and Chemical Capture)

Animal (Rabies) Control; Animal Euthanasia
State law establishes a statewide anti-rabies program administered by the Tennessee Department of Health. Municipalities may adopt ordinances requiring the registration of dogs and cats, and any registration fees collected must be used to support rabies control or animal control programs. Municipalities operating their own rabies control programs are exempt from the state program if their local programs meet the minimum statutory requirements. T.C.A. §§ 68-8-101 et seq.

T.C.A. §§ 44-17-301–303 govern the euthanasia of non-livestock animals, including dogs and cats, in municipal animal shelters. In addition, T.C.A. § 63-12-141 requires the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to certify qualified animal euthanasia technicians. Animal euthanasia may be performed only by a licensed veterinarian, a licensed veterinary technician acting under the supervision of a veterinarian, or a certified animal euthanasia technician. An animal euthanized by intracardial injection must first be tranquilized. Animals euthanized by other approved methods may, but are not required to, be tranquilized.

Before euthanizing an animal that the agency knows or reasonably should know has an owner, the agency generally must hold the animal for at least three business days, except in emergency circumstances. Individuals performing euthanasia must complete an approved training course, and it is a Class A misdemeanor to falsely represent that a certificate has been issued by the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners when no such certificate has been granted.

The Tennessee Spay/Neuter Law, T.C.A. § 44-17-502, provides for the sterilization of dogs and cats before or after adoption from an animal shelter. Deposits forfeited under the law must be used by animal control agencies to conduct spay and neuter programs in the communities they serve.

Dogs at Large
T.C.A. § 44-8-408 makes it an offense for the owner or custodian of a dog to allow the dog to run at large. The severity of the offense depends upon the nature of the dog and whether the dog causes property damage or bodily injury. Allowing a dog to run at large without resulting property damage or bodily injury is a Class C misdemeanor. More serious offenses apply when property damage or bodily injury occurs. The statute also provides several affirmative defenses.

Chemical Capture of Dogs and Cats
T.C.A. § 44-17-601 authorizes approved animal control agencies and certified chemical capture technicians to use chemical immobilization to capture dogs and cats when other capture methods have failed. Only Telazol or other drugs approved by the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners may be used. Such drugs may be administered only by a licensed veterinarian, a licensed veterinary technician acting under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, or a board-certified chemical capture technician acting within the authority provided by law.

Under T.C.A. § 63-12-144, the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners may issue a certificate authorizing a public animal control agency to conduct chemical capture upon determining that the agency is qualified. An applicant agency must submit an application, pay the required fee, and maintain a written chemical capture protocol. Chemical capture technicians must be certified by the Board. It is a Class B misdemeanor to engage in chemical capture without the required certification or to falsely represent oneself as a certified chemical capture technician.