(a) No person shall adopt a dog or cat from an agency, including, but not limited to, an animal shelter, dog pound, animal control agency or humane shelter operated by a municipality, county, or other governmental agency within the state, or a private organization operating a shelter from which animals are adopted or reclaimed, unless:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 44-17-502

  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) The dog or cat has already been spayed or neutered;
(2) The dog or cat has been spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian while in the custody of the agency; or
(3) The new owner signs a written agreement with the agency stating that the new owner will have the dog or cat spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian:

(A) Within thirty (30) days of the date of the adoption, if such dog or cat is sexually mature; or
(B) Within thirty (30) days after the dog or cat reaches six (6) months of age, if the dog or cat is not sexually mature at the time of the adoption.
(b) Nothing in this section shall preclude the spaying or neutering of a sexually immature dog or cat at the discretion of a licensed veterinarian with the consent of the new owner.
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