Note: You never know how images of a dead animal or a live animal who has been hurt, neglected, or otherwise abused will affect people. Although I make an effort to avoid these images when possible, I have seen too many in the course of writing this blog. Some are extremely graphic, others less so. But for me, that is not the determining factor in how deeply these images affect me and to be honest, I don’t know what is. It is likely a combination of things relating to the image and things unrelated (e.g. you’re having a bad day and then you see a photo of a pet someone hurt and you find it affects you more than you anticipated). This is the reason I post warnings whenever I link to images that I think some people may find disturbing. Because I have no way of judging how much each individual can stomach nor do I know in what context the images will be viewed. Which is a long way of getting to: The video linked in the post below may be disturbing to some readers. Speaking for myself, I’ve seen far more graphic images but this one broke my heart, despite knowing the dog is still alive. Use your discretion.
***
The Lauderdale Co pound in TN has been shut down by order of the mayor and one worker suspended after a dog was found alive in a freezer by a citizen last week. The woman who found the dog was reportedly looking for the remains of a different dog when she noticed a vein pulsing on the pet. She shot a brief video showing the dog’s pulse on his leg. His body is crumpled up and squished like a dirty rag among the dead pets in what appears to be a chest type freezer. The woman removed the living dog and shot another short video of him which shows he is extremely weak but his eyes are open. She took him to a vet for care and named him Asher. The vet reportedly found no evidence of sedatives or sodium pentobarbital in Asher’s system which led to the suspicion that he was placed in the freezer alive and left to suffer and die.
The woman who saved Asher was “too afraid to go on camera” because you know, everyone who works at a shelter is a kind-hearted animal lover and such. LocalMemphis.com reports the Lauderdale Co pound “has a history of problems which include animal control officers shooting dogs and illegally putting dogs in a gas chamber.”
A rescuer told Fox13 that it’s too much work for pound staff to allow rescue groups to help save pets and “easier to throw an animal in the freezer or the incinerator.” A woman who has lived across the street from the pound for years says she has witnessed abuse there, including starving dogs forced to cannibalize their kennel mates and caged dogs being sprayed full force with a hose. No one paid by taxpayers to run the county would speak to the Fox13 reporter but the DA said the county sheriff’s department is investigating an allegation of animal cruelty at the pound.
Lauderdale Co leaders have called an emergency meeting for this afternoon regarding the pound. There is reportedly someone tending to the animals while the facility is closed. Assuming that person avoids torturing any pets, it will be a significant improvement. It’s a low bar. Hopefully Lauderdale Co leaders can clear it.
(Thank you Clarice and Arlene for the links.)