Tennessee Code 38-1-403 – Reporting form – Telephone reports – Single report if cruelty, abuse or neglect witnessed by more than one person – No impact on accepted hunting, fishing, livestock and veterinarian practices
(a) If not made by telephone, reports made pursuant to § 38-1-402(a) may be made on a preprinted form prepared by the entity or entities that investigate reports of animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect in that county, that includes the definitions contained in § 38-1-401 and a space for the reporter to include each of the following:
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 38-1-403
Agriculture: means :(i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Animal: means a domesticated living creature or a wild creature previously captured. See Tennessee Code 38-1-401
Livestock: means all equine as well as animals that are being raised primarily for use as food or fiber for human utilization or consumption including, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and poultry. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) The reporter’s name and title;(2) The reporter’s business address and telephone number;(3) The name, if known, of the animal’s owner or custodian;(4) The location of the animal and the premises on which the known or reasonably suspected animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect took place;(5) A description of the location of the animal and the premises;(6) The type and numbers of animals involved;(7) A description of the animal and its condition; and(8) The date, time, and a description of the observation or incident that led the reporter to suspect animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect and any other information the reporter believes may be relevant.(b) Any employee making a report or telephone call pursuant to this part shall make all reasonable efforts to include the information delineated in subsection (a). Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose a duty to investigate known or reasonably suspected animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect.(c) When two (2) or more employees of a state, county or municipal child or adult protective services agency are present and jointly have knowledge of known or reasonably suspected animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect, and where there is agreement among them, by mutual agreement, a report may be made by one (1) person. Any reporter who has knowledge that the person designated to report has failed to do so may thereafter make the report.(d)(1) Nothing in this part shall be construed as prohibiting legal hunting and fishing activities.(2) Nothing in this part shall be construed as prohibiting the owner of livestock as defined in § 43-1-114(b), or someone acting with consent of the owner of livestock, from engaging in usual and customary practices that are accepted by colleges of agriculture or veterinary medicine with respect to livestock, nor shall this part be construed as requiring the reporting of those practices.(3) Nothing in this part shall be construed to apply to a veterinarian or veterinary technician engaged in accepted veterinary practices.
