Title 44, Animals and Animal Husbandry

(a) The following types of fence are deemed sufficient:(1) Stone. A substantial stone fence or wall, three and one-half feet (3½′) high;(2) Plank and post and rail. A post and plank or post and rail fence four feet (4′) high;(3) Rail. A common worm or crooked rail fence five feet…

The following shall be sufficient and be deemed a lawful fence only as to horses, cattle, and mules: any enclosure made by stretching not less than five (5) strands of barbed wire tightly between posts firmly set in the ground, or between growing trees and posts firmly set in the…

The paling and wire fence is made a lawful fence; provided, that the fence is built upon good-sized, substantial posts, set firmly in the ground, not more than twelve feet (12′) apart; and provided further, that there is firmly fastened upon these posts two (2) sets double-strand…

In addition, the following shall also be a lawful fence: a fence built on good-sized, substantial posts, set firmly in the ground not more than nine feet (9′) apart. The fence shall consist of three (3) barbed wires, or three (3) planks, or three (3) slats running horizontally an…

(a) When any trespass has been committed by horses, cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, or other stock upon the cleared and cultivated ground of any person having the livestock fenced, as is described in §§ 44-8-101 — 44-8-105, the person may complain to a judge of the court of general s…

If it appears that the fence is insufficient, the owner of the animals shall not be liable to make satisfaction for the damages.

If any person, whose fence is adjudged insufficient, maims, wounds, or kills any such animal, or causes or procures it to be done, that person shall make full satisfaction to the person injured for all damages sustained, to be recovered before any tribunal having cognizance there…

All persons owning notoriously mischievous stock, known to be in the habit of throwing down or jumping fences, shall be required to keep the stock confined upon their own premises.

The owners of notoriously mischievous stock shall be liable for all damages done by the stock to enclosure or crops of others.

(a) To secure the payment of such damage and costs, executions may be levied upon the stock committing the trespass. (b) After ten (10) days' notice, the stock may be sold to pay such amount of damages and costs.

Any person who pulls down the fence of another and leaves the same down, without permission of the owner, or opens and leaves open the gate of another, without permission of the owner, commits a Class C misdemeanor.

Partition fences, within the meaning of this part, are fences erected on the line between lands owned by different persons; but no owner of land is compelled to allow a neighbor to join a fence exclusively on that person's own land.

Partition fences may be erected and repaired at the expense, jointly, of the occupants or owners; or if a person makes a fence a partition fence, by joining to it or using it as such, that person shall pay to the person erecting it that person's proportion of the expense.

If either of the persons having a joint or partition fence refuses or neglects to keep that person's part of the fence in good repair, that person shall be liable for all damages the other may sustain to enclosures or crops, by trespassing stock, in consequence of the refusal or …

If the parties cannot agree as to the amount to be paid to the owner erecting or repairing a partition fence as provided in §§ 44-8-202 and 44-8-206, on application by either to a judge of the court of general sessions, the judge shall issue an order to three (3) disinterested fr…

The freeholders, first taking an oath before the judge to discharge their duty fairly and impartially, on a day to be by them appointed, of which both parties shall have notice, shall examine the fence, and report to the judge, in writing, the amount to be paid the person erectin…

The like proceedings may be had in cases where partition fences are rebuilt or repaired by either of the joint proprietors, the jury of view being judges, in the first instance, of the necessity or advisability of the improvement.

The court is entitled to fifty cents (50¢) for issuing the order, and the fence reviewers to one dollar ($1.00) each, one half (½) of which is to be paid by each party; and, if not paid within ten (10) days after the report, execution shall issue for such amount.

No partition fence, or any part of a partition fence, shall be removed without the mutual consent of the owners, unless the party desiring to remove the fence, or part of the fence, shall first give six (6) months' notice in writing to the other owner of the owner's intention to …

Any person who removes a partition fence, or any part of a partition fence, without first giving the notice required by § 44-8-208, commits a Class C misdemeanor, and is also liable to the person injured for any damages sustained by reason of the removal.

(a) In cases when the property on one (1) side of an existing or proposed partition fence is agricultural land, and the property on the other side is non-agricultural land, the owner of the non-agricultural land may disclaim any responsibility for the erection or maintenance of a…

It is lawful for two (2) or more owners of adjoining farms to enclose the same under one (1) common fence or enclosure, to be kept up to the standard of a lawful fence by each owner upon that owner's own land, or in such manner and proportion as the owners may agree upon in writi…

It is lawful to prescribe, in such an agreement, the means and method by which the common enclosure shall be constructed and maintained, regulations for the use and enjoyment by each owner of the lands embraced in the enclosure, the penalties to be imposed upon each for violation…

Any such agreement shall continue in force and be binding upon all the parties to the agreement and their heirs and devisees, for the period prescribed in the agreement, unless rescinded by mutual consent. The agreement may be modified or amended in writing signed by all the part…

(a) The agreement may be acknowledged and registered in the county or counties in which the lands and any part of the lands are situated. (b) In case of registration, the agreement shall be binding upon any purchaser of any of the lands embraced in the common enclosure, and the p…

Any person not a party to the agreement whose stock trespasses upon the common enclosure shall be liable to the injured party for all damages that the person sustains, and the party so damaged has all the rights and liens given by law to persons damaged by stock trespassing upon …

(a) It is unlawful for the owners of any livestock, as defined in § 43-1-114, to willfully allow the livestock to run at large in this state. (b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

For any damages occasioned by stock running at large in violation of § 44-8-401, the person so damaged shall have a lien upon the stock, which lien shall be enforced by attachment before a judge of the court of general sessions in the same manner and to the same extent as other l…

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “owner” means a person who, at the time of the offense, regularly harbors, keeps or exercises control over the dog, but does not include a person who, at the time of the offense, is temporarily harboring, keeping…

Every owner of a bitch is required to confine the same for twenty-four (24) days during the time the bitch is proud.

Any person crippling, killing, or in any way destroying a proud bitch that is running at large shall not be held liable for the damages due to such killing or destruction.

A violation of § 44-8-410 is a Class C misdemeanor.

(a) (1) The owner of a dog has a duty to keep that dog under reasonable control at all times, and to keep that dog from running at large. A person who breaches that duty is subject to civil liability for any damages suffered by a person who is injured by the dog while in a public…

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Tennessee Livestock Dealer Act.”

(1) As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Alternative livestock” means non-traditional livestock that are hoofed and captive-farmed for purposes of agricultural or recreational use, as defined by § 70-4-403(3);(2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner o…

(a) Any person doing business as a livestock dealer must procure from the commissioner an annual license. Application for the annual license or its renewal shall be made on forms provided by the commissioner and accompanied by payment of a license fee set by rule pursuant to § 43…

(1) The commissioner has the power and duty to:(1) Promulgate such rules and regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to implement and supplement this part and provide for its orderly administration;(2) Prescribe necessary information to be provided by applicants for licen…

(a) In the event the commissioner has reason to believe a licensee has violated any of the provisions of this part, including the rules and regulations promulgated under this part, the commissioner shall conduct a hearing, pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, co…

(1) The following actions are prohibited:(1) Any person acting as a livestock dealer without a valid license issued by the commissioner;(2) Failure to maintain records as required by the commissioner, including the names and addresses of sellers and buyers of livestock;(3) Failur…

This part shall not apply to any livestock producer who may occasionally buy or sell livestock in connection with that person's farming operations.

To operate as a livestock dealer without a valid license, or otherwise violate this part, is a Class A misdemeanor.

The commissioner, on determining that any person may have violated any provision of this part, may petition for injunctive relief from further violation. The petition should be addressed to the chancery court in the county in which the offense occurred or in which the offender's …

(1) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Alternative livestock” means non-traditional livestock that are hoofed and captive-farmed for purposes of agricultural or recreational use, as defined by § 70-4-403(3);(2) “Breed association” means a bona fid…

(a) No person shall conduct the business of a livestock market without a valid license from the department.(1) The application for a license shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the department, and shall include:(A) The name, address and phone number of the livestock mar…

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Exhibition of livestock” means a show or sale of livestock at a fair or elsewhere that is sponsored by or under the control of a county or independent agricultural society, school, university, breed association, fair association, or similar organi…

(a) The annual license fee to operate a livestock market shall be set by rule pursuant to § 43-1-703. (b) Upon receipt of an application for a license under this section, accompanied by the required bond and license fee, the department shall examine the application and if it find…