This post is another installment featuring records for some of the pets needlessly killed by the Memphis pound during the week of December 5 – December 12, 2012. These are 4 cats who were all housed in an area of the pound that is off limits to the public and their cage cards are all marked “feral” under the “kennel no.” Clearly at least one of the cats was not feral but still none were offered to the public for adoption, rescue or foster. Nor were any TNR’d (if truly feral, TNR is a humane option for cats). They were all healthy at the time MAS director James Rogers signed off on their killings noting, “no holds requested”. How could anyone request a hold on cats that no one outside of MAS staff even knows are there? When did anyone have a chance to touch and fall in love with these cats?
Cat # 248920 was wearing a leather collar when impounded for quarantine. The city provided no records indicating that this cat bit anyone. Although the impounding ACO’s notes were requested, none were provided so presumably either the officer failed to make any notes or the city failed to provide the requested records. The medical records indicate this kitty was healthy and “very friendly”. She was killed on December 12, 2012.
Cat #249058 was impounded as a stray and records indicate he was a healthy 1 year old kitty. He weighed just 3 pounds when MAS killed him on December 12, 2012. No one bothered to take his picture for his record.
Cat #249093 was listed as a healthy, stray 2 month old kitten. The weight listed on the kill record on December 12 was 2 pounds.
Cat #249295 was owner surrendered in the field on December 11. Although the impounding ACO’s notes were requested, none were provided so presumably either the officer failed to make any notes or the city failed to provide the requested records. He was apparently healthy and weighed 3 pounds when MAS killed him on December 12.
Killing is the default disposition in Memphis. Until compassionate people stop enabling the killing and start taking a stand for no kill, the community’s pets will continue to be routed to the landfill via the MAS kill room.
“No holds requested” is the most offensive phrase.
Did any of these cats even make it to Pet Harbor? I can bet you money they didn’t. The bite hold cat – did they know who the owner was? There’s no notation that the owner was contacted or notified or anything.
Zero effort is made on behalf of these animals. They come in, they get put in an area where no one can see them, they are not posted on Pet Harbor and volunteers aren’t even allowed to look at them. Then they get killed because “no one stepped up for them”.
Bullshit.
You know who didn’t step up for them? Memphis Animal Services, that’s who.
Note to MAS – your job is not to kill animals. I know you think it is, but it isn’t. Your job is to SHELTER animals. Take them in, care for them with kindness and competence, and then GET THEM OUT ALIVE.
In the case of feral cats, that means TNR.
In the case of all the others, that means MARKETING.
I don’t know why this concept is so anathema to you, but it’s past time for you realize that what you’re doing is not only not working, it’s killing you. It’s killing your souls, your city, and your hope for the future. Stop it.
Shirley – Does MAS ever respond to your blog? I just can’t imagine being a part of that place and not running in there screaming to “STOP KILLING”. I know I would and I would certainly be asking for help from the people here! Jeez!
The cowards read but do not respond. Not with their real names anyway.
I just don’t understand how they can be okay with what they’re doing…I don’t get it!
Why isn’t the Memphis newspaper bombarded with this info?