Yesterday, the Memphis Rotary Club released its evaluation of Memphis Animal Services. There are quite a few disturbing pieces of this -- and you can read the 22 page report in its entirety here.
In the report, Rotary club points out that interference and favoritism by people at City Hall have led some folks to be exempt from the rules. This essentially helped created a situation where there was well-known, and commonly known issues with some of these individuals who were involved in dog fighting rings in the Community, and moving dogs, and supplies (likely medicines and drugs, although this is not specified) out the back door of the building.
This is definitely disturbing news. But this information, coupled with some other information, is even more disturbing.
First of all, the Rotary club's recommendation is not to fire people involved in dog fighting. Or arrest them. No, their recommendation is to just be more careful with future hires.
Secondly, there is the issue of almost surprise that the city's new shelter didn't help solve their problems. Let me say, new shelters are nice. They can often be structured in a way that makes caring for animals easier, creates more space for more animals, and can be more inviting to adopters. HOWEVER, new shelters do not solve problems such as employees moving animals and supplies out the back door (there were literally hundreds of 'lost' animals in the Memphis shelter) and even a bigger shelter can become full quickly if steps aren't made to increase adoptions. So while a new shelter can enhance a situation, it will not solve a completely disfunctional one. If you're only adopting out 11% of the animals that come into your shelter, a larger shelter will only help you for a very short amount of time.
And lastly, is the issue of the cameras inside of Memphis Animal Services. This became a huge topic of debate last summer. These cameras were installed after a 2009 raid of the shelter and several arrests were made for animal cruelty that began after a puppy was starved to death at the shelter. The cameras were supposed to increase public support for the shelter -- but instead, when people saw what was still going on, they began posting pictures from the cameras online and getting support for change at the shelter. It was this groundswell of support for change that led to director Matthew Pepper's resignation and the Rotary Club doing their evaluation.
However, in spite of the reality that it seemed common knowledge that some animal control officers were moving animals and drug to dog fighters out the back door, there was almost universal support by the employees interviewed to have the cameras removed -- to hide the evidence of what was really happening. Why?
The only explanation that makes any sense is because removing the cameras helped protect the status quo.
Memphis Mayor AC Wharton continues to deflect responsibility elsewhere. When people pushed for change earlier this year, Wharton deflected the blame from animal control and turned the blame onto the public. In this instance, while does plan to turn the information over to the District Attorney to investigate, he still found cause to blame the 'demand for those dogs by dogfighters' as something that must change. While true, having city staff help supply this demand out the back door must also change - -dontcha think?
This is an ugly, ugly mess in Memphis -- one, that really, would never have seen the light of day without the desire by advocates to force change in what is a shelter that is facing extreme failure. The truth is now out there, but the city must seriously take responsibility for the shelter, and the shelter management and staff, and drive to make REAL changes at the shelter that can get them to be successful. Deflecting the blame can no longer be an option.
It is amazing that an animal that is there to be our eyes, and able to hear for us, not to mention an animal that we use for rescue purposes and to save our lives is at the same time not considered to need to be free from persecution. We really have our priorities backwards at times. nice article.
Posted by: Chad Warford | November 18, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Anyone concerned with animal welfare should be disgusted by the situation in Memphis.
And if I were a Memphis resident, I would be extremely concerned that what is happening with the shelter is most likely representative of the city government as a whole.
Posted by: Joel | November 18, 2011 at 10:42 PM