Shelbyville ESA and Psychiatric Service Dog Letters
Shelbyville was laid out in 1810 on a limestone bluff above the Duck River, counted 23,557 residents in 2020 and is known as the Walking Horse Capital of the World. If your animal helps you live with a mental health condition, a free screening reviewed by a Tennessee-licensed clinician is the first step.
Inside the city limits
Shelbyville Animal Control, 716 Industrial Pkwy, (931) 684-6552, weekdays 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Elsewhere in Bedford County
Bedford County Animal Control, 205 Lane Parkway, 931-685-1130
Letters Shelbyville Residents Ask For
ESA housing letter
For asking your landlord to make an exception to animal rules or charges.
Several animals
One letter naming each support animal in your care.
Psychiatric service dog letter
For a dog whose trained tasks help with a psychiatric disability.
Certificate and ID card
Optional records bundled with certain plans.
Shelbyville Plan Pencils
Each pencil carries one plan, written out with the price our checkout shows today.
A Duck River Bluff and the Pencil City
Shelbyville was laid out in 1810 and incorporated in 1819 on a Highland Rim limestone bluff, with the Duck River curving around its southern and eastern sides. Wood-cased pencil making earned it the nickname The Pencil City, and in 1991 the world's longest pencil was produced here. Musgrave Pencil Company, one of the last four pencil manufacturers in the United States, still operates in town.
Shelbyville Strays and Outdoor Pets Check
Pick a situation and answer the questions under it to see which city rules apply and who to call.
Your result
- Choose a situation and select Check the Rules.
Getting a Letter From Shelbyville
Online screening
Tell us how your condition shows up day to day and what your animal does for you.
Clinical evaluation
A Tennessee-licensed clinician reviews your answers and evaluates you, by telehealth where suitable.
Letter by email
Qualify, choose a plan, and the signed letter arrives in your inbox.
The Celebration, the Square and Local Schools
National Celebration
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration fills the 11 days and nights before Labor Day.
Since 1939
The first show crowned Strolling Jim; the breed's World Grand Champion is still named here.
Bedford County Schools
The district runs local public schools, including Shelbyville Central High School.
TCAT Shelbyville
One of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology.
Shelbyville Areas We Serve
Why Bedford County Renters Choose a Tennessee Clinician
Qualified knowledge
Tennessee asks for documentation from a provider with actual knowledge of the disability.
Confidential records
Shelbyville landlords may verify a letter but may not obtain protected medical records.
Not a registry
Paperwork from sites that mainly sell registrations is excluded by state law.
Questions Keyed to the Shelbyville Map
Who handles animal control inside Shelbyville?
Shelbyville Animal Control, a division of the Shelbyville Police Department, at 716 Industrial Pkwy. Call (931) 684-6552, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Who handles animals outside the Shelbyville city limits?
Bedford County Animal Control, at 205 Lane Parkway in Shelbyville, serves county residents outside the city limits. Its number is 931-685-1130.
Can I feed a stray cat in Shelbyville?
City code section 3-113-5 says no city resident shall feed stray dogs or cats unless prepared to take full responsibility for the animal.
What counts as running at large in Shelbyville?
Being off the owner's premises and not under the control of the owner or another competent person by leash. Section 3-114-14 does not allow animals to run at large.
Can my dog live outside in Shelbyville?
Yes, if it has adequate shelter, food and water and is confined in a legally acceptable way, such as a fence, rope, chain, kennel or leash on your property.
Must a Shelbyville landlord accept my emotional support animal?
Tennessee law sets up a request process rather than a guarantee. You may ask for an exception to animal rules and fees, and the landlord may request reliable documentation when your disability is not apparent.
Middle Tennessee Pages Around Shelbyville
General information for Shelbyville and Bedford County residents, current as of October 2026, and not legal advice. City ordinances and county services can change, so confirm with Shelbyville Animal Control or Bedford County Animal Control first. Screening does not guarantee a letter. In a crisis, call or text 988.
Pencil In Your Shelbyville Screening
It costs nothing to learn whether a Tennessee-licensed clinician can document what your support animal does for you.
