MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Lisa Baker had hoped to save two dogs on her most recent trip to Memphis.
The self-employed dog trainer made the hour-long trip from Ashland, Mississippi, on June 11 to pick up the two canines, including one named Gabby, a mix between a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois, according to Baker.
Employees told her Gabby could not be seen because someone was committing to adopt her. Seeing that the second dog she came to save looked healthy, Baker began to make her way out — until she saw Casper, a shepherd mix.
Because the puppy was just over 5 weeks old and not on the euthanasia list, employees explained she could not adopt Casper, unless she agreed to adopt his mom and six siblings.
Baker did not have space for the entire family.
Employees said she could come back in two to three weeks to adopt him if a shelter or rescue did not take them all together.
She gave Memphis Animal Services her number, asking employees to inform her if anything changed.
Three days later, Baker saw Casper listed on the euthanasia page along with his family.
Described as having parvovirus, Gabby was on the page too.
The experience left her questioning what was going on behind the scenes at Memphis Animal Services.
“There’s so much miscommunication in the whole process,” Baker said.
COLEMAN INVESTIGATION
The experience highlighted just some of the complaints levied against the shelter, some of which have led to the city putting director Ty Coleman on leave.
Memphis city officials did not explain why or who made the decision to be placed on leave, but the news came two days following MAS announcing an investigation after a dog died in its play yard on June 24.
The city named community development administrator Mary Claire Borys as interim director of MAS.
In a statement, MAS officials said preliminary information suggested the dog’s death was heat-related, but an exact cause of death has not been determined.
MAS officials said it has adjusted the outdoor play areas to have more shade, and they are working with staff “to ensure the well-being of all animals" in their care.
ABC24 saw a few blue tents put up outside of the shelter to shade some spots at the front of the property where the dog reportedly died.
Coleman began working as interim director on September 5, 2023, after previously serving as animal services manager for the City of Midland and animal services director for the City of Sherman.
Coleman had been let go from his Midland job in April 2023 after almost a year heading their shelter, according to his personnel file obtained by ABC24. The only explanation the city provided was that he did not pass the probationary period.
ABC24 reached out to Midland officials to inquire about the discharge, but the city did not provide further comment.
Since Coleman took the reins in Memphis in September 2023, 20 employees have resigned, with 10 of those resignations coming in May and June. Out of those 10, two were full-time veterinarians and four were supervisors.
City officials discussed the MAS investigation on the dog’s death during a city council committee meeting Tuesday, July 23, and said a performance plan had been implemented but that the investigation was still ongoing.
Borys and City of Memphis Chief Operating Officer Antonio Adams addressed the council committee saying that the investigation was ongoing, but in the next 30 days, the improvement plan sought to stabilize operations and complete the internal investigation.
Adams said that he was hesitant to speak on the investigation, citing "serious allegations."
"There are serious allegations against this young man and before we put them out there publicly, we should allow the investigation itself to rest and then allow his due process to run its' course," Adams said.
Short term goals in the next 60 days include ensuring vaccinations for shelter and foster care, procure a spay and neuter van, ensure that staff are in place and programs are implemented with continuing education, refine and revise adoption and rescue procedures and improve the facility.
Since the new interim leadership was put into place, a MAS spokesperson said the leadership team has been meeting daily and they began the process for hiring more staff for part-time and full-time positions.
PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP SAW SUCCESSES
Prior to Memphis hiring Coleman, Alexis Pugh served as MAS director, from June 2016 until June 2, 2023.
City officials said she consistently helped the save rate improve, ending 2022 at 86%. Pugh is also credited for helping create Memphis’ first Pet Resource Center, which helps families keep their pets when in need by providing food, medical care, spay and neuter resources and other supplies.
The monthly number of animals being euthanized remained below 100 for all but four months under Pugh in 2022 and 2023 — those four months recorded numbers below 115. However, that trend changed immediately after Pugh left, with the number nearly doubling to 205 in June 2023 from the previous month, which recorded 114.
The euthanasia numbers mostly continued to stay well above 100, even after Coleman took over MAS in September 2023.
SPAYING, NEUTERING AND EUTHANASIA
Baker thought she could keep the shelter from adding Gabby and Casper to those numbers.
Following some email exchanges, an employee said Gabby had been adopted. However, Baker said MAS’ website still showed the dog on the euthanasia list.
Frustrated, Baker traveled back on June 20, and spoke with someone who agreed to let Baker adopt Gabby, but Baker first needed to have her vet sign a liability document for Gabby’s treatment. Baker said MAS could not fax the document for some reason, forcing her to drive over an hour away then back to get the paperwork signed.
During the process, she had asked about adopting Casper, but the employee said he still had to be adopted along with the entire family. Baker told the employee each member of the family was listed separately on the euthanasia page. The employee then said a rescue had committed to adopting the entire family and that they were all sick.
According to MAS’ website, city law requires pet owners to have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered. Baker said she was surprised to find that Gabby was not spayed when the shelter turned over the dog to her.
She had to pay a $25 deposit, promising to have Gabby spayed in 30 days. However, Baker said losing $25 does not provide enough incentive to ensure owners comply.
“You’re expecting them to just come back to get a $25 deposit when it cost them over $100 to have the dog spayed or neutered,” Baker said. “They’re not going to do it.”
Baker said the shelter could issue fines to the owner, but that means they have to follow up.
When responding to ABC24’s question on sterilizing policies, a MAS spokesperson said they recently increased the refundable fee to $150.
“While we do not have the resources to follow up with every adopter, we feel the new fee will increase compliance,” the spokesperson said. “Additionally, when an animal control officer is on a call and sees that a pet is not in compliance, they can issue a citation on first contact.”
After finally getting Gabby — now named Hera — Baker received a notification a couple days later, saying that MAS had euthanized Casper due to having the parvovirus — the day following Baker’s last visit.
“I tried very hard to save that poor boy. It breaks my heart that they put him down even after I stood there on that Thursday, the day before offering to pay medical costs, take him to my vet, make sure he was treated and he was okay,” Baker said.
“My heart is broken for Casper.”
