Helpers: This is the second in a series about people pitching in for their neighbors, friends and community in ways big and small.
As the Nashville Humane Association celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026, the organization is reflecting on decades of work protecting homeless, adoptable and at-risk pets while continuing to meet the evolving needs of animals and families across Middle Tennessee.The milestone announcements and celebration also comes during a busy season for the shelter. In early March, Nashville Humane Association was experiencing overcrowding, a result of the ongoing need for adoptions, foster families and community support as the pet population continues to grow.
“Nashville Humane would not be where it is today without our staff, dedicated volunteers, and community,” says Laura Baker, executive director of NHA. “Celebrating 80 years is an incredible accomplishment. While our mission has grown and evolved over the years, our focus has always been serving Nashville and its animals.”
Originally incorporated in 1946 to protect the well-being of animals in Davidson County, Nashville Humane Association has expanded its work over the decades to include pet adoptions, low-cost vaccine and spay/neuter clinics, a weekly Pet Food Bank, foster care, disaster relief and humane education. In 2025 alone, the organization helped 2,691 pets find homes, partnered with 69 shelters, transported more than 2,200 animals to safety and distributed more than 35,000 pounds of pet food to families in need.
Throughout 2026, the organization will mark its 80th year with special programming and events, including its signature fundraisers — Unleashed, Mutt Strut, Cause for Paws, and Dog Day Festival — as well as a free community open house at the shelter on March 26.
Baker answered a few questions for The Contributor about all the work that goes into serving animals in Nashville.
As the Nashville Humane Association is celebrating 80 years in 2026, what do you see as the most significant ways the organization has evolved since its founding in 1946?
Honestly, the easier question might be how we haven’t evolved. When Nashville Humane was founded in 1946, our mission was to protect children and horses. As Nashville grew and changed, so did we. In the 1960s and ‘70s we focused on rabies control, in the ‘80s and ‘90s we moved into field operations and cruelty investigations, and in the 2000s we launched our mobile spay/neuter unit, ROVER, to tackle pet overpopulation head-on.
We moved into our current facility in 2004 and later became the first shelter in the Southeast to be KultureCity certified so we could truly welcome the entire community. During COVID we pivoted to Zoom adoptions, and in recent disasters we’ve focused on providing resources and support that help keep pets with the families who love them.
The common thread through all 80 years is simple: we evolve to meet the needs of our community — and if Nashville keeps changing, you can bet we’ll keep changing right along with it for the next 80 years.
Nashville Humane now reports a 98 percent save rate. What strategies or programs have helped the shelter reach that level of success?
A 98 percent save rate doesn’t happen because of one program — it happens because of a community. It really does take a village. At Nashville Humane, our strategy is rooted in being humane to humans and animals alike. When we help people, we help pets stay in their homes.
That’s why we offer services like no-cost sterilization, training support, grant-funded landlord deposits, a weekly pet food bank and community vaccination clinics. These programs help remove the barriers that sometimes force families to surrender beloved pets.
For the more than 3,000 shelter dogs and cats and 15,000 community dogs and cats we serve each year, we invest deeply in every animal that comes through our doors. We regularly pull from our partner shelter, Metro Animal Care and Control, as well as surrounding rural counties, and we specialize in helping animals with medical or behavioral challenges.
Programs like FOSPICE are a great example of the compassion behind our work — our veterinary team provides medical care while a foster family provides a loving home allowing animals who might not otherwise survive to experience comfort, dignity, and love.
At the end of the day, our save rate reflects something bigger than the shelter itself. It reflects Nashville — a city full of people who are willing to step up for animals and for each other.
What are some of the key events or initiatives the community can look forward to during the 80th anniversary celebration year?
This is truly a year to celebrate. We’re kicking things off with an Open House for the community on March 26 from 1–7 p.m., where people can come see their local animal shelter, meet the team, and learn more about the work happening behind the scenes to help animals in Middle Tennessee.
The following evening, March 27 from 6–9 p.m., we’re hosting a tented donor celebration called Top Tails with a fun nod to 1946 — complete with music from the era — to honor the people who helped build Nashville Humane into what it is today. We are a cornerstone of our community because of some incredible pillars in our community like Robin Patton, Will Cheek, John Colton and Jim Delanis.
We’re also working toward launching a Nashville Humane specialty license plate through the State of Tennessee so supporters can literally drive our mission forward.
And one of our biggest community traditions returns on May 17: Mutt Strutt at Shelby Bottoms. It’s a one-mile walk or 5K you can do with your pup, and nearly 900 people typically come out to enjoy the beautiful weather, spend time in nature, and celebrate their love for animals while supporting our work.
There’s a lot planned this year, but the heart of it all is bringing the community together to celebrate 80 years of helping animals — and the people who make that work possible.
As you look ahead, what are the biggest challenges and opportunities for animal welfare in Nashville over the next decade?
The biggest challenge — and opportunity — for animal welfare in Nashville over the next decade is continuing to evolve alongside our community. In my 17 years working in animal welfare, I’ve seen needs and priorities ebb and flow. The key for organizations like Nashville Humane is to stay connected, listen closely to our community, and step in where we’re needed most.
Nashville is growing quickly, which means the challenges will keep changing — from access to veterinary care to disaster response to keeping pets and families together during tough times. Our goal is to remain flexible, innovative, and deeply rooted in the community we serve.
At the end of the day, we’re here for Nashville. Whatever the challenge — growth, economic shifts, or the unexpected — we’ll keep showing up and adapting, because that’s what our community and its animals deserve.