In this festive episode of The Bark, we’re cutting through the holiday sparkle to talk about the real do’s and don’ts of Christmas when it comes to dogs and cats. While the season brings joy, it also brings a dangerous spike in impulse puppy purchases, roadside puppy sales, and “free to a good home” litters from irresponsible breeding. We break down why buying — or taking — a puppy under these circumstances fuels the animal crisis and puts families and pets in tough situations once the holiday glow fades.

But it’s not all warnings. We’ll share why foster-to-adopt is one of the best gifts you can give an animal (and yourself), offering a safe, commitment-free way to see if a pet is truly the right fit.

We’ll also cover holiday safety basics to keep your own pets protected — from dangerous décor to toxic treats to the stress that comes with busy homes and visitors.

Whether you’re a seasoned pet parent or thinking about bringing home a new furry family member, this episode will help you navigate the season with compassion, clarity, and responsibility.

At Laws Saving Paws, we believe meaningful change happens when communities and industry leaders come together — and few voices in Tennessee are as influential as Farm Bureau. In this episode of The Bark, we explore how the state’s growing animal overpopulation crisis is no longer contained to shelters or city centers. Stray and roaming dogs, driven by an absence of breeding laws and limited access to spay/neuter, are now impacting the very people Farm Bureau represents: our farmers.

From threats to livestock to increased safety concerns and financial strain, the ripple effect of unchecked breeding is real — and preventable. That’s why we’re asking an important question: What role could Farm Bureau play in addressing a crisis that now touches every corner of Tennessee?

Join us as we unpack the issue, highlight opportunities for collaboration, and discuss how policy, partnership, and awareness could protect both animals and the agricultural communities that keep our state strong.

In this episode of The Bark, we spotlight the life-saving bond between veterans and their dogs — a partnership built on trust, loyalty, and healing. While our veterans step up to defend our country, countless dogs are stepping up to defend them right back, providing critical emotional support, mobility assistance, and a renewed sense of purpose when life after service feels overwhelming.

But here’s the hard truth: while dogs are saving lives, too many of theirs are being thrown away. As we face a growing animal crisis, we must rethink the value society puts on a dog’s life — especially when their impact can mean the difference between hope and despair for the heroes who served us.

We’ll sit down with Monica Piper, a veteran and Executive Director of Warrior Freedom Service Dogs – an organization committed to helping veterans with service induced brain injuries reconnect through the unconditional love of a service dog.

If you’ve ever doubted the worth of one animal’s life, this episode will change your mind.

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In this episode of The Bark, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most overlooked aids to Tennessee’s animal crisis — fostering. While shelters struggle to keep up with endless intakes and the fallout of overbreeding, foster homes are the unsung heroes keeping the system from collapsing.

We’re talking about what really happens when there aren’t enough fosters — dogs left in kennels for months, cats born on the streets, and animals turned away because there’s simply nowhere for them to go. Fostering doesn’t just give animals a temporary home — it gives them a fighting chance. It’s also the smartest way to see if a pet fits your life before making the long-term commitment of adoption.

We’ll break down how fostering saves lives, eases overcrowding, and chips away at the root of the animal overpopulation problem — one home, one heart, one animal at a time.

If you’ve ever said, “I could never foster — I’d get too attached,” this episode may make you think twice.

In this episode of The Bark, we sit down with the global organization out of Baltimore, Maryland, The Animal Alliance, whose mission is clear: Transforming Communities Through Compassion for Animals. Together, we explore how tackling issues like animal overpopulation and continued compassion for our animals, irresponsible breeding, and lack of access to spay/neuter services requires collaboration — not competition.

Too often, rescues, shelters, and advocates work in silos or even against each other. The Animal Alliance is a driving force for using partnerships to inspire not only in our local communities, globally. Listen in as we talk about how teamwork can create a future where animals — and people — thrive.

In this episode of The Bark, we take a closer look at what’s really happening in Tennessee with animal laws — and what that means for you, your pets, and your community. We’ll talk about your rights as a citizen when dealing with irresponsible pet owners, what it takes to be a truly responsible pet owner, and the steps you can take to make a difference.

Joining us is special guest and local attorney Jessica Schultz, who brings valuable insight into how the law protects both people and animals — and where gaps still exist. From practical advice to bigger-picture solutions, this episode gives you the tools to stay informed, get involved, and help create change.

www.lawssavingpaws.org/thebark
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In this episode of The Bark, we pull back the curtain on the no-kill shelter movement and reveal the hidden consequences of chasing a “no-kill” status at all costs. While the goal sounds compassionate, the reality is far more complicated — and often devastating for animals and communities.

We uncover how shelters that should be open-intake are instead turning away pets, leaving strays, abandoned litters, and unwanted animals with nowhere to go. The result? Overcrowded neighborhoods, rising animal control issues, and increased strain on taxpayers, rescues, and responsible pet owners.

We’ll share our views and expose the hard truths about what’s happening behind the “no-kill” label — giving you the facts you need to see the full picture and make up your own mind. And as a bonus, this episode is unofficially dedicated to Tom Brady — you’ll have to listen to find out why.

In this powerful episode, we uncover how organizations like the AKC and USDA are quietly fueling America’s growing animal crisis—including right here in Tennessee. Behind the polished image of registered breeds and kennel standards lies a system that may appear to be built on unchecked overbreeding, outdated policies, and a disturbing tolerance for puppy mills and backyard breeding operations.

These high-volume breeding facilities aren’t just rare, isolated cases—they’re part of a national pipeline, enabled by lax oversight and protected by the very institutions meant to uphold animal welfare. With little accountability, puppy mills continue to churn out dogs, flooding the market and keeping both online sellers and some pet stores supplied.

We explore how profit, politics, and public perception collide in a system that prioritizes registration fees and industry power over the wellbeing of animals. If you've ever questioned where your dog came from—or what it really means to be “AKC registered”—this episode will open your eyes.