Memphis Animal Shelter in the Doghouse for Astonishing Kill Rate

For pets in Memphis, Tennessee, entering the Memphis Animal Shelter is likely the last thing they will ever do. The shelter, which covers Shelby County, boasted a 77 percent euthanasia rate for 2010. (Compare that to Washoe County in Nevada, a comparable sized community that has a 90 percent save rate.)

The YesBiscuit! blog keeps close tabs on the operations at MAS and has offered to help the animals get adopted. In an open letter to the shelter, the main question proposed is: Why are there hundreds of healthy, adoptable pets that are not shown to the public to be given a second chance at a home?

In response, Cindy Sanders, Chair of the MAS Advisory Board, expressed her concerns for the issues surrounding the shelter. This includes what she calls a “horrendous” kill rate and smoke screens put in place by the City Administration to deflect criticism. She is frustrated that no one but the Board is raising concerns about operations at MAS: “We welcome the outcry from across the country and around the world. Hopefully the spotlight will help.”

Many of the standard operating procedures at Memphis Animal Shelter are available for public viewing through webcams. Attendants use high pressure hoses to clean the kennels ... with dogs still in them. Frequently you can see surrendered dogs marched from the front desk straight to the euthanasia room.  Dogs on the green mile spend their last walk at the end of a catch pole, often resisting the fate that awaits them in the other room.

With only enough cages in the adoption area to hold 31 dogs, is it any wonder that most of them never make it to be seen for adoption? Not to mention the dogs that are deemed unadoptable due to breed discrimination.

As administrator of the shelter, Matthew Pepper is charged with fulfilling the mission of MAS to promote responsible pet ownership. It’s hard to be a role model of responsible pet ownership when 77 percent of incoming pets are euthanized.

Time and time again, concerned citizens of Memphis have implored Mr. Pepper and MAS to address the extremely high euthanasia rate. Instead of responding, Mr. Pepper dresses up in a dog costume and dances around the shelter to “Who Let the Dogs Out?” When you can distract the public by boasting about 40 dogs or cats placed into new homes during one day as a result of a publicity stunt, why worry about the other 364 days of the year?

Mr. Pepper states he is tired of the shelter’s reputation and insists that it is a “fun” place. I would like to see Mr. Pepper spend a few hours in a kennel located at the back of the shelter and then honestly say it is a fun place.

The Memphis Animal Services Advisory Board holds monthly meetings. The meeting for May is scheduled for tonight, 6:00 pm at 3030 Poplar Ave. If you live in the area, please be sure to attend and express your concerns about the welfare of the county's shelter animals.

If you're not local or can't make the meeting, sign the petition here on Change.org asking MAS to address their appalling euthanasia rate.

Photo Credit: Memphis Animal Shelter