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Metro Animal Care and Control says they took in close to 9,400 animals in 2012 and almost 8 out of every 10 of them had to be put down.
"We dont like putting animals down," said Billy Biggs of animal control. "It's the worst job here and if everybody would be responsible pet owners, get your animals spayed and neutered and keep them at home we'd have a lot less problems."
The problem isn't just in Davidson County. The Humane Society of the United States estimates more than 100,000 healthy, adoptable pets are put down every year in the volunteer state.
"It's bad in Tennessee," Biggs said. "Part of it is due to not having spay/neuter laws."
State law says families can adopt an unsterilized dog or cat if they leave a $25 deposit and promise to spay or neuter the pet within 30 days, but if they don't, they simply lose the deposit.
Other southeastern states issue misdemeanors or take civil action.
"There's a pet overpopulation problem in Tennessee," said Vicki Stevens, coordinator of World Spay Day.
Stevens says while Tennessee law catches up, giving families affordable options is the first step to saving lives.
"Even low cost spay/neuter is out of reach to many many people so world spay day is one time out of the year where people can do something a little special and maybe reduce those costs a little bit more," Stevens said.
The Nashville Humane Association offers spay/neuter procedures to families receiving government assistance for just $10. On Spay Day they fixed 42 pets.
Biggs says, every bit helps..
"Spay Day is very important," Biggs said. "Not only to Nashville humane but Davidson county as well. I wish we had spay day once a month,
you can find affordable spay neuter options in your area by visiting the Fox Links section of this website.
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 11:17 PM CST
Tennessee News
Storms from Okla. weakening as they move to Tenn.
May 21, 2013 15:32 GMT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The storm system that brought devastation to central Oklahoma is expected to weaken before moving into Tennessee.
The National Weather Service included the western half of Tennessee in an area that has a slight risk of severe thunderstorms through Wednesday morning.
Meteorologist Brittney Coleman with the NWS office in Nashville said high wind and hail are the major threats with the storm system. The probability of severe storms is most likely from the Mississippi River to Interstate 65.
NWS forecaster John Sirmon in the Memphis office said rain falling Tuesday morning in West Tennessee will help ensure the approaching heavier line of thunderstorms doesn't run into unstable air. The line is expected to move across the Mississippi River between 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday.
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