Comments on: Shelter conditions lead to firing in Memphis

By: Jenifer

Jenifer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:19:30 +0000

In some states and municipalities there are laws that prevent employees from being sued for this sort of thing. Even in some cases from being prosecuted. I think that not only should they be prosecuted but sued personally on behalf of the animals with the recovered monies going to help shelter animals. Only in a few states can someone sue for the emotional attachment to an animal that is injured or killed, especially deliberately–in most states one can sue the perp only for the dollar value of the animal so generally there is no recourse for either the animal or the guardian. But I think as far as shelter animals all of us who care deeply about animals have “damages” if you will when we have to see or deal with this esp. when it becomes obvious it was done deliberately. Working to change the law so that there is significant and dramatic recourse against agencies and their employees who do these things might be the long-term appropriate response to these increasing numbers of shelter abuses coming to light.

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:12:58 +0000

Not only should these employees and the director be fired, they should also be charged with animal cruelty, the same as any another citizen. Perhaps they should receive a harsher punishment than a regular citizen though, since they were instrusted with this job and they were actually getting paid to abuse these animals! Disgusting!
The picture breaks my heart, you assume that dogs in shelters (and cats) will recive some sort of a dignified passing, however this photo shows that is not always the case. Poor baby, I hope he is finally feeling the happiness and comfort he so deserved! RIP.

By: Beth Norwood

Beth Norwood — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:16:52 +0000

Well I’m going on the air about this…I want everyone in Huntsville Alabama to know about it! I sure hope OUR animal shelter doesn’t act this way.

By: Jenifer

Jenifer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:26:57 +0000

Someone is NOT doing their job – I’m talking about the one who hired this scumbag even though there was plenty of information about what he did at his former shelter in New Mexico. Google is an amazing tool and there is believe me plenty of info about this newly-fired shelter director out there. Sociopath doesn’t even begin to describe him.

By: Gus n Wally n Miss Jan

Gus n Wally n Miss Jan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:21:26 +0000

I looked at the cams. They don’t show what horror lives in those cages.

I say fire them all and send to prison. This is felony animal abuse. If Tennessee doesn’t consider animal abuse a felony it SHOULD.

Why isn’t this shelter closed and all of the animals sent to decent rescues who really do care about the animals? Why is the City letting this place even keep its doors open? ANY employee who even had an inkling of this level of neglect and sheer cruelty should be out on the street immediately with no job and no severance pay and BAD references. I hope every d***n one of them ends up homeless and hungry so they can understand what it is like.

By: Sarahkate

Sarahkate — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:15:13 +0000

I can’t imagine that the good people of Memphis are allowing this to continue.

Eye for an eye would be appropriate punishment for these shelter thugs. Let them go without water and food or even a scrap of warm blanket or clothing for several days. I bet you would see a major attitude change. They still should lose their jobs and serve prison time. Why on earth are they still being paid even on suspension? Where is the DA – still hanging with his cop buddies sucking up coffee and snarfing down donuts while animals suffer like this??? There are NO punishments SEVERE enough for everyone who had a hand in this.

By: Baltimoregal

Baltimoregal — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:22:43 +0000

Heartbroken.

By: bluhawkk

bluhawkk — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:22:01 +0000

Sick,sick,sick,sick.

Other words fail. Everything else is raw emotion.