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FeedMay 17, 201103:31 PM
CNN Interested in Shelter Photos
First it was the "little suitcase dog." Now it's "trashcan puppies."
Those are images on the webcam of Memphis Animal Services — better known as the Shelter — that are sparking outrage and making news — and one of them could go national this week. Reporter ABC/Channel 24 reporter Jeni DiPrizio's covered the "trashcan puppies" on Monday evening. As a result, CNN called and requested the story "to be put on the feed," says DiPrizio. If they decide to run it, it will appear on all CNN affiliates.
Alerted by concerned animal advocates, DiPrizio reported that the webcam video "showed two women dropping off a female dog and her puppies. The women took the animals back to a cage. Three days later, employees put the puppies in a trashcan and wheeled them off to be killed. The puppies were not put in the area of the Shelter where they place adoptable animals; instead they were placed in the stray area" — which is off limits to the public.
DiPrizio also reported that Shelter director Matthew Pepper had been at the Shelby County Emergency Operations Center helping with animals displaced by the flood. "While Pepper was away, sources tell abc24.com, employees took advantage of the situation. At times animals were not fed and cages were not cleaned, according to sources." A city spokesperson told DiPrizio that the employee was disciplined for not following Shelter procedure.
This is the second webcam image in recent weeks that has raised a furor. The first — which prompted circulation of a petition to boycott Memphis — showed a Shelter employee lifting a dog by the skin of his back, like a suitcase, and taking it the euthanasia room. "We have made improvements in some areas," Pepper told this magazine, "but we have a long way to go before we make this organization what I want us to be."
To view and read the DiPrizio's story, go to http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/Puppies-Tossed-in-Trash-Can-at-Memphis-Animal/72OSxkBE6EiIClg51RTvDw.cspx
How sad any living creature is placed in a garbage can before it is killed.
How wrong that my tax dollars are used to pay for it.
Please, Mayor Wharton, take MAS from the "worst to the first" as you promised after the 2009 raid on MAS by the ASPCA.
Thanks for this great report of the condition of the Memphis Animal Services, it alerts us all to the type of non caring elected officals we have amoung us.
What actions are being taken to ensure that animals at this shelter are actually being treated humanely? The employee shown dragging a defenseless dog through the shelter should have been fired. I am appalled that this abuse is allowed and permissable at any shelter in this country. There are rescues that are non-profit who would willingly take these dogs in and find loving homes. How backward is our country to tolerate such blatant cruelty and allow the perpetrators to remain employed. Memphis needs to take a closer look at their so-called shelters and perhaps implement felony charges for those who abuse defenseless animals.
There was also the "Little Begging Dog", a little daschund mix at the Memphis Animal Services who would sit up and beg. There was an adopter who wanted the dog and begged for its life, but MAS killed him. I guess the employees need power and control, and the city turns its head. Real pathetic.
Mayor Wharton needs to dismiss Matthew Pepper. The shelter has turned into a virtual slaughterhouse on his watch. He did the exact same thing in Cado Parish. There are empty cages all over the shelter but he continues to kill adoptable dogs without letting the public see them. He only allows a handpicked few to be seen by the public. It is a disgrace. The city is paying him $92,000.00 a year to allow abuse and needless killing of animals. The entire situation is heartbreaking and major reform needs to happen at MAS.
The people that run and oversee this shelter are arrogant and need to be held accountable for their actions. There is no reason in this entire world for these animals to be KILLED. There are plenty of other options.
Only with continuous pressure applied will changes be made. Keep shining the spotlight on the atrocities occurring at this shelter every day. On top of which a councilwoman reportedly told a concerned citizen who signed a petition about the horrific crimes being committed at the "shelter" - "so what". That pretty much sums up the attitude of those involved. They do not care. So we have to. Be the voice for the animals here. Puppies having to be CARRIED to the death room because they are too terrified to walk. They know they are going TO DIE. Dogs being led by leashes to suffer same fate. It is beyond disgusting what is happening at Memphis Animal Shelter. SPEAK OUT and KEEP speaking out!
If this shelter director cared, these employees would be FIRED! If he cant take care of this problem then Matthew Pepper needs to be removed from his position and replaced with someone who cares about animals and will obey the law!! Need shelter inspectors to report individual abusers and assist the police in enforcing our animal rights laws?? We in the animal rescue community would GLADLY donate our time. Just let us in. There should be NO area of ANY shelter that is off limits to the public!! What do you have to hide?? This speaks volumes.
I cannot wait until this article runs nationally. Maybe then Wharton will take action and he will be forced to take accountability for his actions (or lack of actions). It is hard to accept this actually takes place in our city. Surely we are better than this. Where is the compassion? I applaude those who have spent hours/days/weeks/months and years getting this message out to the public. I am ashamed of our city.
so i am not quite sure how to help. i wouldn't mind quitting my job and going to run the shelter. $92,000 is enough for me. maybe the shelter can create a website to showcase the pets throughout memphis and the surrounding areas. place pics of the dogs on facebook. maybe the best way we can help is encourage our friends and family, as well as ourselves, to not go to expensive breeders to buy a dog that costs more than one month rent or mortgage. instead, go adopt a pet!! so sad :(
Citizens of Memphis might be interested to know that, after receiving a copy of a petition that demanded for conditions to improve at Memphis Animal Services, Councilwoman Janis Fullilove responded with a one-line email message:
"So what?"
You can read the entire story at a blog called Yes! Biscuit.