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In Tennessee, the short answer is that you cannot shoot your neighbor’s dog just because it’s a problem or has attacked your pet in the past—but there are narrow situations where deadly force may be legally justified. Tennessee treats a dog as personal property. That means if you intentionally kill someone else’s dog without legal justification, you could potentially be...

A Harrowing Walk That Changed the Law In December 2006, 60‑year‑old Dianna Acklen was casually walking near her Hendersonville home when she was suddenly attacked and killed by three unleashed dogs. Until then, Tennessee upheld the “one‑bite” common-law rule: owners were only strictly liable if they had been aware of their dog's prior aggression. Dianna’s story ignited outrage and spurred...

A Collision of Care and Canines: Rebecca’s Story Rebecca Hudson was a dedicated kennel technician at a busy boarding facility, "Chasing Tails." One afternoon, two bulldogs—Winston and Duke—that belonged to Paul and Leigh Ann Gravette, broke free from their pens. In a terrifying moment, the dogs attacked Rebecca while she was performing routine care. Rebecca suffered significant injuries, including bite...

In December 2006, 60‑year‑old Dianna Acklen was casually walking near her Hendersonville home when she was suddenly attacked and killed by three unleashed dogs. Until then, Tennessee upheld the “one‑bite” common-law rule: owners were only strictly liable if they'd been aware of their dog's prior aggression. But Dianna’s death was different—it was preventable, senseless, and heartbreaking. Her story ignited outrage...

Dogs have been close and beloved companions for thousands of years. But even the most docile and domesticated dogs can bite—often without provocation or a history of aggression. Regardless of size or breed, all dogs have sharp teeth and powerful jaws. When they bite, victims may bleed profusely, experience muscle and tendon damage, and even lose sensation in and use...

If you feel like you see dogs more than ever nowadays, there’s a good reason for that. As of 2017, there were nearly 90 million pet dogs in America—an increase of more than 20 million compared to 2000, when there were around 68 million in the U.S. While the vast majority of those dogs bring nothing but smiles and joy...