Who we are

Sumner County Humane Voters is an all volunteer organization co-founded and co-managed by Patti Ragsdale and Laura Meadows, both Sumner County residents.

Membership is completely free. Any registered voter can be a member of SCHV. We recruit other animal rescuers, animal lovers, and those who just want to do what's right for animals and animal issues. Our power is in the number of our members. It is very common that many local elections have been won by less than 10 votes. And, our organization can swing those elections for humane-minded lawmakers and candidates.

Why are we doing this?

Long term: to affect change that will positively impact animals for years to come. Short term: to begin holding our lawmakers accountable for humane issues. Until now,  there has not been a scoring system for animal issues for any of our lawmakers (city, county or state). We will present all local lawmakers a humane questionnaire. Their responses or refusals will then be posted here for public viewing.  We will also keep a running tally of our lawmakers' votes on animal issues.  As a group, we will only endorse and vote for humane-minded candidates.  With a large voting bloc like this, we have the power to affect political change for our beloved animals for decades to come

We need your membership to accomplish this task.

About Patti Ragsdale

Animal welfare has always been important to me, but it was in the recent past that I became involved in a more formal manner.  After relocating to Tennessee from Indiana twenty years ago, I joined Speaking Out for Animals (SOFA), a Nashville organization which focused on actively and physically gathering to protest factory farming, circuses, fur stores and universities which experiment on animals.  We also demonstrated against food chains and retail stores known to ignore standards for the humane raising and slaughtering of animals.  My husband and I are financial contributors to many animal welfare organizations and have a special interest in the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN.

Currently, I assist the Christian Vegetarian Association by leaf-letting during major organized Christian gatherings and I annually represent CVA at Earth Day at Centennial Park in Nashville.  Besides recently becoming involved in the Sumner County Humane Voters’ Block, I am a volunteer at the Wilson County Snip N’ Tip Program and I regularly capture and release homeless and feral cats after spaying and neutering.  I have two children, three grandchildren and two 8-year old male cats, Bob and Ivan.  In my adult life, I laid to rest my two beloved dogs, both named “Nick,” who are waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge, “never again to part.” 

I believe that in addition to seeking legislators who can be counted on to initiate and advance laws that protect all animals, we should also extend to our fellow rescuers, animal lovers and activists the same compassion and respect that we unselfishly offer to animals.  The success and future of our efforts not only depend upon the conversion of those who otherwise lack compassion, it ultimately depends on our ability to unite and maintain a non-competitive and non-combative spirit among those who share common goals.

Patti Ragsdale

Speaking out for those who can’t

About Laura Meadows

Well, I grew up in blue collar, rural Arkansas, then moved to Nashville in 1993 to attend Lipscomb University.  I completed my bachelor's in biology and completed my master's work in family life education and counseling. I have a wonderful little boy and live in Hendersonville. I share my home with 4 dogs and cats. I have been a resident of Sumner County since 2005.

Animals have always been a part of my life, and I have always had a special bond with them. Growing up, my mother always took in and fed the neighborhood strays.  My childhood home was often full of a variety of pets (dogs, cats, birds, turtles, and fish).  I became a vegetarian at the age of 17 largely because of  factory farming. So, an animal friendly lifestyle has been a way of life since childhood.  In 1999, I rescued my first two dogs from the shelter, and life has gone to the dogs (and cats) ever since. 

I began actively volunteering with animal rescue groups in 2003.  Since then, I have personally rescued and re-homed hundreds of animals. I have also been a long time supporter of multiple animal welfare groups on the national and local levels. Currently, I am an active volunteer for the Fix for Life Clinic in Lebanon, Humane Association of Wilson County's Snip N' Tip program for feral cats and HAWC's other spay/neuter programs.  Rescuing and helping animals is my life's calling and passion. 

With that said...I anxiously await the road that lies ahead of SCHV.  I am eager to serve the animals, other animal advocates,  the public, and our legislators.  Together, we can make our community a better place to live.

Trying to be the person my dogs think I am,

Laura Meadows