Memphis Animal Services apparently has no Facebook page but a group called Friends of Memphis Animal Services does. They post a small percentage of the pets at the shelter both on FB and on Petfinder. Readers report that any postings to the “Friends” FB page regarding no kill are deleted and now, any screengrabs from the shelter webcams are also being deleted. Don’t distract us from our efforts to save-a-few-and-kill-the-rest with your pesky lifesaving information and legitimate questions about pets at the shelter. We’re on a mission from God.
Yesterday, in searching for information on the planned mass killing of stray dogs at MAS as reported in the Commercial Appeal, I looked at the “Friends” FB page. I didn’t find anything whatsoever about dogs being killed. Not one word. Instead, I saw postings about how rescue groups were saving “many, many” dogs and other dogs were being moved to outside kennels while their indoor kennels were cleaned. However, I failed to find any specifics as far as names of rescue groups, numbers of dogs, etc. even though people had posted those questions. Some comments indicated a desire to thank the rescuers with donations. “Friends” said they didn’t want to post the rescue groups’ names without permission. This got me wondering, have you ever heard of a rescue group not wanting to publicize their work and receive donations for it? Maybe the dog rescues in Memphis are all kajillionaires, I don’t know – or maybe “Friends” just figures the dog rescues don’t need any more donations.
At any rate, today’s article in the Commercial Appeal states that “as many as 14 dogs” were pulled by rescues yesterday. Would it be too difficult to determine the actual number? Is it 8 or 13 or 5 or what? Somebody knows the actual number, right?
[Memphis Animal Services Director Matthew] Pepper said at least three more dogs are expected to be taken by rescue groups today, and is hopeful that number will grow.
Now let me be clear: I am all for getting dogs out of MAS to rescue. It’s what should have happened when they first knew they had a problem with distemper at the shelter. I am grateful to everyone involved who helped to save “as many as 14 dogs” yesterday and hopefully “at least 3 more” today. But I call it as I see it and what I see here looks like a volunteer group that is – at least – complicit in the misleading PR spin for the shelter. The word “enabler” comes to mind.
This shelter regularly holds roughly 350 pets. The numbers aren’t adding up. Supposedly adoptable dogs and puppies were killed Saturday and “strays” were to be killed yesterday. How many have been killed? And “as many as 14 dogs” does not qualify as “many, many” in my book when there is absolutely no mention of the dogs who were killed yesterday.
From a piece on WMCTV:
“The true number is probably going to be in excess of 60 that were truly euthanized for the purposes of this illness breakout,” said shelter director Matthew Pepper.
In excess of? As many as? What is going on here?
This is a public shelter. The records are public information. The truth will come out.
If you are interested in supporting efforts to make Memphis a no kill community, join the new group on Facebook: No Kill Memphis.