A revised animal ordinance is scheduled for a second vote at the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, TN, Council Meeting on December 6, 2022. View the proposed ordinance.
The current proposed ordinance, BL2022-1571, is less problematic than a previous version that was withdrawn in June. However, the current proposal still contains certain overreaching provisions, which include:
- An overreaching definition of “owner.” Instead, the current law’s definition is preferable and could easily meet legislative goals by substituting “animal” for “dog.”
- An unnecessary and overreaching definition of “extreme weather conditions” that would define arbitrary high and low temperatures and certain weather forecasts as “extreme.”
- A definition of “vaccination” that conflicts with the authorized administration of three-year rabies vaccinations.
- Potential elimination of a requirement for the health department to provide a low-cost rabies vaccine clinic or clinics at least annually.
- A provision that could require the former owner of a dangerous dog to continue providing “hazard insurance” coverage for the dog following the transfer of ownership.
What you can do:
- Because the proposed ordinance affects all pet and livestock owners, immediately contact council members and request that a vote on the proposed ordinance be delayed until after a public hearing is held to address concerns with the newly-revised ordinance.
- Continue contacting council members to express your concerns and provide recommendations. Thank them for their responsiveness to constituents’ concerns with previous version of the proposed ordinance, and urge them to continue working to address current concerns. Scroll down for contact information.
- Public input on the proposed ordinance is not scheduled during the council meeting on 12/6/22. However, two committees will consider the ordinance at their meetings and can make recommendations to the full council. Public participation in committee meetings is allowed. The Budget and Finance Committee meets Monday, 12/5/22, at 4:45pm. The Public Health and Safety Committee meets Tuesday, 12/6/22, at 4:30pm.
View committee meeting schedules and locations.
Click here and scroll down to view committee member lists.
Council Members’ Contact Information:
Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, 615-880-3357, 615-584-1082, jim.shulman@nashville.gov
At-Large 1 Bob Mendes, 615-432-1341, 615-756-3533, bob.mendes@nashville.gov
At-Large 2 Sharon Hurt, 615-432-1342, 615-804-9852, sharon.hurt@nashville.gov
At-Large 3 Burkley Allen, 615-432-1343, 615-383-6604, burkley.allen@nashville.gov
At-Large 5 Zulfat Suara, 615-432-1345, 615-585-2558, zulfat.suara@nashville.gov
Dist. 1 Jonathan Hall, 615-432-1301, 615-586-3046, jonathan.hall@nashville.gov
Dist. 2 Kyonzte Toombs, 615-432-1302, 615-601-5127, kyonzte.toombs@nashville.gov
Dist. 3 Jennifer Gamble, 615-432-1303, 615-860-2602, jennifer.gamble@nashville.gov
Dist. 4 Robert Swope, 615-432-1304, 615-308-0577, robert.swope@nashville.gov
Dist. 5 Sean Parker, 615-432-1305, 615-339-6946, sean.parker@nashville.gov
Dist. 6 Brett Withers, 615-432-1306, 615-427-5946, brett.withers@nashville.gov
Dist. 7 Emily Benedict, 615-432-1307, emily.benedict@nashville.gov
Dist. 8 Nancy VanReece, 615-432-1308, 931-297-4148, nancy.vanreece@nashville.gov
Dist. 9 Tonya Hancock, 615-432-1309, tonya.hancock@nashville.gov
Dist. 10 Zach Young, 615-432-1310, 615-390-6840, zachary.young@nashville.gov
Dist. 11 Larry Hagar, 615-432-1311, 615-972-4335, larry.hagar@nashville.gov
Dist. 12 Erin Evans, 615-432-1312, erin.evans@nashville.gov
Dist. 13 Russ Bradford, 615-432-1313, russ.bradford@nashville.gov
Dist. 14 Kevin Rhoten, 615-432-1314, 615-483-9535, kevin.rhoten@nashville.gov
Dist. 15 Jeff Syracuse, 615-432-1315, jeff.syracuse@nashville.gov
Dist. 16 Ginny Welsch, 615-432-1316, 615-293-3365, ginny.welsch@nashville.gov
Dist. 17 Colby Sledge, 615-432-1317, 615-442-3727, colby.sledge@nashville.gov
Dist. 18 Tom Cash, 615-432-1318, thomas.cash@nashville.gov
Dist. 19 Freddie O’Connell, 615-432-1319, freddie.oconnell@nashville.gov
Dist. 20 Mary Carolyn Roberts, 615-432-1320, 615-977-9262, marycarolyn.roberts@nashville.gov
Dist. 21 Brandon Taylor, 615-432-1321, 615-946-9700, brandon.taylor@nashville.gov
Dist. 22 Gloria Hausser, 615-432-1322, 615-307-0823, gloria.hausser@nashville.gov
Dist. 23 Thom Druffel, 615-432-1323, 615-767-6458, thom.druffel@nashville.gov
Dist. 24 Kathleen Murphy, 615-432-1324, 615-422-7109, kathleen.murphy@nashville.gov
Dist. 25 Russ Pulley, 615-432-1325, russ.pulley@nashville.gov
Dist. 26 Courtney Johnston, 615-432-1326, courtney.johnston@nashville.gov
Dist. 27 Bob Nash, 615-423-1327, bob.nash@nashville.gov
Dist. 28 Tanaka Vercher, 615-432-1328, tanaka.vercher@nashville.gov
Dist. 29 Delishia Porterfield, 615-432-1329, 615-208-3068, delishia.porterfield@nashville.gov
Dist. 30 Sandra Sepulveda, 615-432-1330, 615-389-2795, sandra.sepulveda@nashville.gov
Dist. 31 John Rutherford, 615-432-1331, 615-829-6004, john.rutherford@nashville.gov
Dist. 32 Joy Styles, 615-432-1332, 615-717-4017, joy.styles@nashville.gov
Dist. 33 Antoinette Lee, 615-432-1333, 615-755-5482, antoinette.lee@nashville.gov
Dist. 34 Angie Henderson, 615-432-1334, 615-260-5530, angie.henderson@nashville.gov
Dist. 35 Dave Rosenberg, 615-432-1335, 615-208-7129, dave.rosenberg@nashville.gov
For additional information, please contact American Kennel Club Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.