Tennessee animal cruelty statutes apply uniformly statewide and treat aggravated cruelty as a felony, allowing prosecution of hoarding cases regardless of city or county ordinances.
T.C.A. 39-14-202 defines animal cruelty as intentionally or knowingly torturing, neglecting, or failing to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter. Aggravated cruelty under T.C.A. 39-14-212 is a Class E felony. While Tennessee has no statute using the term hoarding, prosecutors charge severe neglect cases as cruelty when conditions endanger animal welfare. State law preempts any local attempt to decriminalize neglect.
Misdemeanor cruelty: up to 11 months 29 days jail and $2,500 fine; aggravated cruelty: 1 to 6 years prison.
See how Columbia's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
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