The Southern Alliance for Animal Welfare was the first animal welfare group in Nashville and surrounding counties to bring high volume mobile spay/neuter services to pet owners who need these services the most -- those whose income prohibits them from even the most basic veterinary services. Indeed the goal and mission of any humane shelter or animal welfare organization should be to put themselves out of business. That can only be achieved through promoting spay/neuter and making it accessible for all pet owners.

Being the first ot offer these spay/neuter clinics in 1998 was very exciting.  Indeed after our second clinic we had representatives from both Nashville Humane Association and Wilson County Humane wanting to learn more about these progressive s/n clinics.  We were also invited to come speak to a group in Putnam County about a more progressive approach to pet overpopulation.  All three of these groups/areas now have their own version of the s/n clinics.  Just goes to show that when you start something and share it with others, you never know how large the seed you plant will grow.  Because of this, SAAW encourages groups to share and help each other.

Mobile Clinics
Below are some of the spay/neuter clinics we've held with the help of RAM (Remote Area Medical), based in Knoxville.

First Clinic - Aug. 1- 2, 1998. A total of 73 dogs and cats were spayed/neutered, vaccinated and de-wormed free of charge for low income pet owners who qualified. 

Second Clinic - Dec. 18, 19, 20, 1998. A total of 120 dogs were spayed/neutered.

Third Clinic - July 31 and Aug. 1, 1999. A total of 65 dogs and cats were spayed/neutered.

SAAW continues with our ground-breaking spay/neuter certificate and subsidy program which also emphasizes the need for vaccinations.  To date, we have fixed and vaccinated over 5,500 dogs and cats in the Middle Tennessee area.  And that number continues to grow.

SAAW also provides pet food and supplies to homeless pet owners as well as pet owners living at or below the poverty level.  The number we have helped is unbelievable and the most rewarding mission we have. And while we still offer veterinary care for free to these folks (based on income of lack thereof), we will not offer vaccination or wellness services if they do not allow us to also spay or neuter their pet.  Animals must be already fixed or we must be allowed to have them fixed to qualify for free services.

Donations may be sent to the Southern Alliance for Animal Welfare, P.O. Box 23535, Nashville, Tenn., 37202. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit so your donations are tax deductible. If you would like more information about SAAW or would like to get more involved, please call 615.474-8390 or email SAAW.

SAAW has always been vocal on the horrors of Mass Puppy Mills and the Tragedy they cause
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Don’t buy a dog from a pet store. If you don't buy from pet stores, puppy mills will go out of business.

It’s that simple. Most puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills. Because it is virtually impossible to determine the quality of the breeding facility listed on the puppy’s papers, the more humane option is simply not to buy the dog at all. Although the consumer may be assured that American Kennel Club (AKC) papers guarantee a quality dog, in reality, nothing is further from the truth. After years of artfully dodging the question of how AKC papers could be registered to dogs and puppies found in the worst of puppy mills, the AKC itself is admitting the misconceptions that are connected with purebred papers.

No one has more power to fight puppy mills than the consumer. You have the ability to stop the cycle of abuse by refusing to purchase a puppy from a pet store.

Adopt instead
When you’re ready to bring a dog into your life, visit your local animal shelter or animal control facility. Millions of homeless dogs are waiting for life-long, responsible homes. You won’t be supporting the puppy mill industry, and you'll be fighting the tragic pet overpopulation problem. If you are interested in a particular breed, there are breed rescue groups that will match you with the exact dog you are looking for. Simply search the web to find them.

Unlike buying, adoption focuses on matching your lifestyle and habits with the animal’s needs and characteristics. When an animal is sold, profit comes first. Pet stores will sell to anyone. The profit motive puts the animal’s needs in jeopardy.

Make your voice heard
Outrage at the conditions found in many puppy mills has brought increased awareness to this issue. Legislators listen to calls and letters from constituents, and plan their priorities accordingly. Although any change in the way puppy mills are regulated is an improvement, the changes will not eliminate puppy mills! Until the demand for mass-produced pet store puppies ends, there will always be a profit made in the production of dogs.

Resolve to inform friends, neighbors, family, co-workers about the puppy mill issue. Many people care deeply about animals, but are simply unaware of the connection between the pet store puppy and the tragic breeding dogs trapped in the puppy mill horror.

Mass commercial puppy mill breeders will stop only when our consumer dollars stop earning them a profit. When we have the power we have the responsibility. Simply refuse to buy anything from a pet store that sells dogs and cats for profit. We can fight this industry that views pets as mere profit machines. Isn’t such unconditional love worth this effort?