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- FAST FACTS:
- Whistle Blowers Share Pics From Inside Shelter
- Pictures Show Filthy Cages
- Advocates Have Complained for Years
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(MEMPHIS 10/28/2009) -- Folks who blew the whistle on poor conditions at the Memphis Animal Shelter before Tuesday's raid continue to come forward to share their stories with WREG News Channel 3.
An animal advocate who wants to remain anonymous, shared an email she sent last month to then Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery. Her email included photos of filthy puppy cages.
"The puppy cages were smeared with feces," she wrote in the letter. "Some were curled up in the corner of their cage in the cleanest area they could find while others were at the front of the cage whining for someone to let them out of their own filth. It was horrific!"
The whistle blower even called what was going on "animal cruelty" and cited the Tennessee Statue dealing with cruelty to animals.
She's certainly not the only one who has brought poor conditions to the attention of former and current city leaders. Barbara Standing recently fired of a letter complaining about a bad experience she had after adopting a dog from the shelter.
Standing is convinced her dog Carmen died from a disease she picked up at the shelter. She blames an outdated building, poor care and overcrowding. We asked Standing if she thinks the shelter needs new leadership. "I think it starts at the top and filters down," she says. "Yes, definitely. I think it needs new leadership."
The current leader at the shelter is Administrator Ernest Alexander. He was hired after a nationwide search in 2008. Before coming to Memphis, Alexander ran the shelter in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He currently makes $92,400. His top vet makes $86,520. Other administrators and vet techs make anywhere from $36,753 - $40,521.
Alexander has not returned our calls for comment.
Investigators say it's way to early to point fingers at anyone in particular, but whistle blowers say the investigation should look at folks both inside and beyond the shelter walls. Nobody has been charged at this point, in fact the District Attorney has not yet determined if a crime has been committed.
Animal advocates say the overcrowding and poor conditions also stem from a community-wide problem. Advocates have provided pictures of how some animals looked when they were dropped off at the shelter. The animals appeared malnourished.
Advocates say tough spay and neuter laws need to be put in place, otherwise the shelter will continue to be plagued with problems, even the most competent leaders and administrators would have trouble solving.
