Pedigree or Profit?

In this powerful episode, we uncover how organizations like the AKC and USDA are quietly fueling America’s growing animal crisis—including right here in Tennessee. Behind the polished image of registered breeds and kennel standards lies a system that may appear to be built on unchecked overbreeding, outdated policies, and a disturbing tolerance for puppy mills and backyard breeding operations.

These high-volume breeding facilities aren’t just rare, isolated cases—they’re part of a national pipeline, enabled by lax oversight and protected by the very institutions meant to uphold animal welfare. With little accountability, puppy mills continue to churn out dogs, flooding the market and keeping both online sellers and some pet stores supplied.

We explore how profit, politics, and public perception collide in a system that prioritizes registration fees and industry power over the wellbeing of animals. If you've ever questioned where your dog came from—or what it really means to be “AKC registered”—this episode will open your eyes.

What is The Bark: A Pet Podcast Unleashed?

The Bark: A Pet Podcast Unleashed dives deep into Tennessee’s animal crisis, exploring the real financial impact, community responsibility, and tough decisions behind the headlines. Presented by nonprofit Laws Saving Paws, this podcast connects the dots between public safety, tax payer burden, and the wellbeing of pets and people alike.

Whether you’re an animal lover passionate about advocacy and humane care, someone frustrated by the neighborhood impact, or a practical thinker concerned about how your money’s spent, this show offers honest insight.

Episodes will cover topics like:
• Why today’s pet climate demands responsible action
• The real effects of spaying/neutering—or not
• What every buyer should know about breeding
• Preventing costly, common pet health issues
• How your hard-earned money is enabling the crisis,
• And much, much more

The Bark: Raw, relevant, and unapologetic—because the truth affects all of us.