Thursday November 5, 2009, 9:27 am
The Old Saying "You Can't Judge a Book By It's Cover" certainly proves true here... I have also included the Memphis Animal Shelter's "Cover" below:

Copy & Paste Links:


http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/nov/03/3-animal-shelter-dogs-died-lack-care-and-feeding/

Puppy No. 199287 arrived at the City of Memphis Animal Shelter on Aug. 18, described in paperwork as a friendly pit bull-Lab mix.

Marked "hold for court" in an animal-cruelty case, the white puppy with black spots weighed 23 pounds.



Within three weeks, the female dog was dead, a victim of "non-accidental starvation," according to a veterinarian. She'd lost one-quarter of her body weight.

A search warrant released Tuesday shows that at least two other dogs recently starved to death while in the shelter's care.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office raided the shelter at 3456 Tchulahoma last week after a whistle-blower complained that animals were being mistreated.

Ten shelter employees and city animal services administrator Ernest Alexander were relieved of duty, and Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons said criminal charges are possible.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton said Tuesday that shelter employees are back on the job as he awaits an internal investigation about shelter operations.

"I can't say at this point whether they did everything right or did everything wrong until I get the results, which I will have at the end of the week," said Wharton, who added that shelter volunteers are providing an "additional layer of oversight" over the employees.

The warrant shows that deputies asked for a slew of shelter records, including computers and logs of care.

Deputies seized 17 boxes of documents, four computers, six CDs or DVDs, empty dog-food bags and two cell phones, among other things.

Detectives believed there was probable cause that laws were being violated by Alexander and shelter employees, the warrant says.

Among the potential charges are aggravated cruelty to animals, official misconduct and tampering with or fabricating evidence, which could result from dogs being held for court that were allowed to die, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies also included in the warrant photos of puppy No. 199287.

The earliest photo shows the dog looking healthy just after arriving at the shelter. Later photos show it in an increasingly emaciated condition.

The animal was found dead in its cage Sept. 4, according to the warrant.

The photos were taken by the tipster, who repeatedly brought the dog's deteriorating condition to the attention of shelter employees, said Sheriff's Office spokesman Steve Shular.

Also included in the warrant were the results of a necropsy on the puppy done by veterinarian Melinda Merck of Gainesville, Fla.

The dog, wrote Merck, had little stored-up fat, including a 2.3 percent measurement of bone-marrow fat. Sixty percent or higher would be normal, she wrote.

Although the dog had partly digested food in its stomach, the doctor estimated the puppy hadn't eaten in at least 72 hours. The cause of death, she wrote, was starvation.

The warrant also indicates that volunteers had sent "numerous" e-mails to Alexander, now-departed Division of Public Services and Neighborhoods director Kenneth Moody and two employees, warning that animals were in poor condition.

Moody retired from the city in July.

Deputies discovered in the raid that some of the animals were sick or had been deprived of food and water.

Death rates of animals being kept at the shelter have risen sharply, from 75 in 2006 to 119 in 2007 to 193 in 2008.

Wharton said publicly accessible 24-hour surveillance cameras will be installed at the facility by week's end.


http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20091104/NEWS01/91104014/3+dogs+starved+to+death+at+Memphis+Animal+Shelter+



3 dogs starved to death at Memphis Animal Shelter

Associated Press • November 4, 2009


MEMPHIS — Records show at least three dogs were starved to death at the city-operated Memphis Animal Shelter.The Commercial Appeal reported details of a search warrant executed last week were made public Tuesday.

The raid by Shelby County Sheriff's officers came after a whistleblower complained animals were being mistreated.

Citing records, the newspaper reported a female mixed breed puppy that was brought to the shelter in August died within three weeks of what was described as "non-accidental starvation." A veterinarian said the dog had lost one-quarter of her body weight.

District Attorney Bill Gibbons said criminal charges are possible in the case.

City animal services administrator Ernest Alexander and 10 shelter employees were relieved of duty, but Memphis Mayor A C Wharton said Tuesday that the employees are back on the job as he awaits an internal investigation about shelter operations.

"I can't say at this point whether they did everything right or did everything wrong until I get the results, which I will have at the end of the week," said Wharton

Wharton said that volunteers are providing an "additional layer of oversight" over the employees.

Deputies seized 17 boxes of documents, four computers, six CDs or DVDs, empty dog food bags and two cell phones, according to the warrant.

Among the potential charges are aggravated cruelty to animals, official misconduct and tampering with or fabricating evidence, which could result from dogs being held for court that were allowed to die, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Photos of the emaciated dog were taken by the tipster, who repeatedly brought the dog's condition to the attention of shelter employees, said Sheriff's Office spokesman Steve Shular. A necropsy showed that the puppy hadn't eaten in at least 72 hours.

According to the warrant, volunteers at the shelter had sent numerous e-mails to the administrator, as well as Division of Public Services and Neighborhoods director Kenneth Moody, warning that animals were in poor condition.
Moody retired from the position in July.


http://www.cityofmemphis.org/framework.aspx?page=596

Ernest Alexander
Administrator
Memphis Animal Services
3456 Tchulahoma Road
Memphis, TN 38118
Phone: (901) 362-5310

Memphis Animal Services
3456 Tchulahoma Road
Memphis, TN 38118
Phone: (901) 362-5310
TTY: (901) 576-6501



Memphis Animal Services

Memphis Animal Services offers a wide range of programs & services; including the sheltering of lost and homeless animals, pet adoption and placement, spay/neuter programs, handling of animal control complaints & bite cases, dog licensing, cruelty investigations, public information/humane education, and more.

The Memphis Animal Shelter houses stray and homeless animals for both the City and County. It is located at 3456 Tchulahoma Road and is open to the public on Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and closed on Sundays and holidays. The public may redeem impounded pets upon payment of required fees. Pet adoption is available and includes spaying/neutering and vaccinations.
Our current hours of operation are:
Monday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Memphis Animal Services
3456 Tchulahoma Road
Memphis, TN 38118
Phone: (901) 362-5310
TTY: (901) 576-6501
Who we are

Memphis Animal Services, or "Animal Shelter" as we are often called, has been around since the early 1950's providing animal services to the City of Memphis and Shelby County. Although primarily a municipal animal care and control department for the City of Memphis, the service center (shelter) does provide for housing and other related animal services for animals from Shelby County. Our mantra has always been protecting people from the dangers and nuisances of uncontrolled animals and keeping animals safe from mistreatment and abuse. Promoting, motivating and enforcing responsible pet ownership is our number one goal.

Contrary to the "limited admission" philosophies of some shelters for companion animals, our shelter has an open door policy. We turn away no animal, regardless of health, temperament, age or condition. Unfortunately, this does not enable us to place every animal in a new home. In reality of course, not all of the animals we take in are good candidates for placement. The sad fact remains however, that many otherwise healthy animals never get adopted because there aren't enough families who want them.

Our philosophy is to keep working at the root causes of pet overpopulation and irresponsible pet ownership - to provide alternatives to indiscriminate breeding of pets, to encourage people to become better pet owners and to make our community a better place for both people and animals.
What we value

* A balance of enforcement and education promoting responsible pet ownership
* Homes for animals that are free from mistreatment and abuse
* Better communications, cooperation and tolerance among neighbors
* To live peaceably without suffering the nuisances and dangers caused by others' pets
* Pride in vital service we render to the community
* The difference of beliefs about the place animals have in our society
* Sensitivity to the high emotions which accompany animal problems


Animals - Bites, Complaints, Control, Licensing, Vaccinations
Phone: (901) 362-5310

According to State law, all bites must be investigated. All animals who have bitten, regardless of rabies vaccinations, must be quarantined for ten days at the Animal Shelter or veterinary clinic. Complaints regarding dogs, loose animals, etc., should be directed to the above number.

Pet owners are required to maintain a current certificate of vaccination against rabies for each dog and cat over three months of age. All dogs over three months of age must be licensed. Dog licenses may be obtained at any veterinary clinic or the Memphis Animal Shelter.


http://www.cityofmemphis.org/framework.aspx?page=620

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in Memphis Animal Services volunteer program. Volunteers are a valuable asset to Memphis Animal Services and to the many animals that pass through our center.

Time and energy contributed by volunteers will help to keep this volunteer program functioning. Since our volunteer support is so extremely important, your decision to participate must be made with the full understanding of the commitment and responsibility it demands.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Memphis Animal Services, please call (901) 362-5310 for more information or return a completed application to Memphis Animal Services, 3456 Tchulahoma, Memphis TN 38118 or fax to (901) 362-6876. We hope that the time you spend here will be a very rewarding experience.



Volunteer Mission Statement

The volunteer program was developed to promote and compliment the work of Memphis Animal Services in a voluntary capacity.

GOALS:
# To promote and support the work of Memphis Animal Services to compliment staff efforts
# To provide care and assistance to the animals at Memphis Animal Services
# To assist with furthering the services and programs of Memphis Animal Services
# To provide public awareness and education on the proper care and treatment of animals
# To promote the human - animal bond

VALUES:
# The joy of returning pets to their families
# Placing pets into deserving homes
# Listing animals that will become loving pets on the website
# Welcoming new visitors to the center
# Making people aware of the needs of animals
# Being part of the solution to problems surrounding pet overpopulation

Thursday November 5, 2009, 9:35 am
There is no excuse for this.

Thursday November 5, 2009, 9:43 am
They ALL need to GO TO JAIL!

Thursday November 5, 2009, 7:12 pm

Found a full body & head photo ...

Copy & Paste Link:

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=45874

Still say... ALL NEED TO GO TO JAIL!