FAST FACTS:
"It's just been so horrific," said Janice Jackson as she listened to Mayor A C Wharton word's today at the Memphis Animal Shelter.
News Channel 3 was able to get its first look inside the shelter since it was raided. By all appearances, it is now clean and animals appeared to be healthy.
"I think he is handling it very wisely, taking his time doing it right and that's what we want," added Jackson.
Director Ernest Alexander has been fired. The Mayor says inadequate administrative oversight, improper documentation, and missing original paperwork led to his decision.
Three workers still remain on paid suspension.
Two new faces, interim director Darrell Elliot and operations manager Lucy Shaw will now step in and look over the shelter. Shaw is the former director over The MED.
Self proclaimed animal lover Linda Riggs says she was looking for more, "That he was going to let the top to the bottom go, and let somebody that loves animals and maybe have a no kill shelter."
Riggs thinks the changes Mayor Wharton made will do for now.
In the past week, the Mayor admits there was one dog that was put down improperly. The owners were not notified.
The mayor says new safe guards will stop this type of improper treatment. There will be a new task force of vets and volunteers to help over see the shelter operations.
New cameras have been installed to keep a lookout.
"Assure them that this is not a blame game, it's a care game," said Wharton about the remaining workers.
As for Jackson, yesterday she was protesting, today she is applauding, "He's going to have a lot of people watching him volunteers, as well as new leadership which is definitely need, so we are all real positive about it."
===========================PLAN FROM MAYOR A C WHARTON================
CITY OF MEMPHIS ANIMAL SHELTER The Way Forward
In light of recent developments at the animal shelter, inclusive of preliminary findings of an internal investigation, the following are action being taken as measures to improve the quality of animal care and the delivery of overall services:
1) Hire an Interim Facility Coordinator
The Interim Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks:
" Providing leadership in managing the fiscal resources of the animal shelter " Monitoring the department's operating and capital budget - making appropriate recommendations " Establishing and administering performance measures to support the day-to-day operations within the budget " Reporting developments to the Mayor
2) Enlist the services of an Interim Operations Control Manager/Reinstate the Operations Control Manager position
" In the interim, the city will enlist the services of a highly-qualified operations control manager with expansive knowledge of animal care and control. " This individual will work in lockstep with the Mayor's Task Force. " This individual will ensure strict compliance with all updated policies and procedures. " Qualifications for the Operations Control position will be rewritten to require enhanced experience in animal care and control.
3) Activate the Mayor's Task Force to engage in Systematic Monitoring
" Representatives from animal advocacy groups and animal professionals with the mayor's newly-formed Animal Shelter Task Force will work with the Interim Operations Control Manager to implement best practices at the shelter. " Members of the Mayor's Task Force will work with the Interim Facility Coordinator and the Division Director in providing daily monitoring of the shelter and of staff.
4) Install Video Cameras " Starting at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 6, operations at the animal shelter can be viewed by web camera 24 hours a day via the City of Memphis' website: www.memphistn.gov
5) Increase Veterinarian Services
" Two Veterinarians will now be contracted to perform services at the shelter.
- Wharton has fired Memphis Animal Shelter Director Ernest Alexander
- Wharton is bringing in several temporary people to watch over the shelter
- Mayor says he welcomes more volunteers at the shelter
"It's just been so horrific," said Janice Jackson as she listened to Mayor A C Wharton word's today at the Memphis Animal Shelter.
News Channel 3 was able to get its first look inside the shelter since it was raided. By all appearances, it is now clean and animals appeared to be healthy.
"I think he is handling it very wisely, taking his time doing it right and that's what we want," added Jackson.
Director Ernest Alexander has been fired. The Mayor says inadequate administrative oversight, improper documentation, and missing original paperwork led to his decision.
Three workers still remain on paid suspension.
Two new faces, interim director Darrell Elliot and operations manager Lucy Shaw will now step in and look over the shelter. Shaw is the former director over The MED.
Self proclaimed animal lover Linda Riggs says she was looking for more, "That he was going to let the top to the bottom go, and let somebody that loves animals and maybe have a no kill shelter."
Riggs thinks the changes Mayor Wharton made will do for now.
In the past week, the Mayor admits there was one dog that was put down improperly. The owners were not notified.
The mayor says new safe guards will stop this type of improper treatment. There will be a new task force of vets and volunteers to help over see the shelter operations.
New cameras have been installed to keep a lookout.
"Assure them that this is not a blame game, it's a care game," said Wharton about the remaining workers.
As for Jackson, yesterday she was protesting, today she is applauding, "He's going to have a lot of people watching him volunteers, as well as new leadership which is definitely need, so we are all real positive about it."
===========================PLAN FROM MAYOR A C WHARTON================
CITY OF MEMPHIS ANIMAL SHELTER The Way Forward
In light of recent developments at the animal shelter, inclusive of preliminary findings of an internal investigation, the following are action being taken as measures to improve the quality of animal care and the delivery of overall services:
1) Hire an Interim Facility Coordinator
The Interim Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks:
" Providing leadership in managing the fiscal resources of the animal shelter " Monitoring the department's operating and capital budget - making appropriate recommendations " Establishing and administering performance measures to support the day-to-day operations within the budget " Reporting developments to the Mayor
2) Enlist the services of an Interim Operations Control Manager/Reinstate the Operations Control Manager position
" In the interim, the city will enlist the services of a highly-qualified operations control manager with expansive knowledge of animal care and control. " This individual will work in lockstep with the Mayor's Task Force. " This individual will ensure strict compliance with all updated policies and procedures. " Qualifications for the Operations Control position will be rewritten to require enhanced experience in animal care and control.
3) Activate the Mayor's Task Force to engage in Systematic Monitoring
" Representatives from animal advocacy groups and animal professionals with the mayor's newly-formed Animal Shelter Task Force will work with the Interim Operations Control Manager to implement best practices at the shelter. " Members of the Mayor's Task Force will work with the Interim Facility Coordinator and the Division Director in providing daily monitoring of the shelter and of staff.
4) Install Video Cameras " Starting at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 6, operations at the animal shelter can be viewed by web camera 24 hours a day via the City of Memphis' website: www.memphistn.gov
5) Increase Veterinarian Services
" Two Veterinarians will now be contracted to perform services at the shelter.
