A former volunteer at the Memphis pound submitted her resignation last night via e-mail to the new interim director, James Rogers. This was the response she received (I have removed the former volunteer’s identifying information by request):
From: <James.Rogers@memphistn.gov>
Date: Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 8:40 AM
Subject: RE: Resignation
To: tracy.dunlap@memphistn.gov
Cc: Janet.Hooks@memphistn.gov, LaSonya.Hall@memphistn.gov, tracy.dunlap@memphistn.govI, Memphis Animal Services and the City of Memphis, really appreciate your volunteering to participate in the fostering and care of the animals at the shelter.
It is with great regret that we part. However my plan is to take swift and corrective action on the footage seen on Yesbiscuit.com.
I am aggrieved just as you with the footage and will have all employees (i.e., Animal Control Officers, Animal Care Technicians) and possibly volunteers wishing to attend the training, retrained with proper care and the use of the catchpole. Once this is in place within the next 30 to 60 days the quality of care for (our pets) the animals under our care will improve drastically. This takes time.
If you reconsider your position in the future, we will gladly welcome you back as a volunteer.
Again, thank you for your support.
James M. Rogers
Administrator, Memphis animal Services
When, When, WHEN is Memphis going to get it? It’s a culture of abuse. A demonstrated pattern of cruelty and apathy that has existed for years. A training class doesn’t fix it. And training volunteers to use the chokepoles certainly doesn’t fix it. I’d like to send every last one of those chokepoles to the landfill. The one that MAS currently fills up with pets, after they’re done abusing them.
You can not train monsters. Anyone who thinks it’s ok to drag a dog by a metal noose around his neck straight into a wall is not someone who will develop empathy for the sentient beings in their care because they attended a chokepole class.
You must do better than this Mr. Rogers. Much, much better.