MEMPHIS, TN – The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is digging into claims of animal abuse after a raid Tuesday morning at the Memphis Animal Shelter.
“We did find some animals that were apparently not well-cared for today,” said Steve Shular, a spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. “We did find some animals that were malnourished.”
He said that wasn’t all deputies found inside.
“There were angry dogs placed with angry dogs in the facility, or dogs that were diseased placed in the same area as non-diseased dogs were,” he added.
An anonymous tip led Shelby County Sheriff's deputies to launch the raid. Shular said they will not release details just yet about how many dogs are part of this investigation, but Deborah Gibson worried her dog could be in that group. She said he ran away from home Saturday, and she arrived at the shelter Tuesday to pick him up.
“He's been here since Saturday and now I can't get him because of the raid, the warrants and stuff,” she said. “So he's going to spend Saturday through Thursday here when he could have been home with me.”
No dogs have been taken from the shelter. But 10 employees and the shelter's director aren't working there now.
“When it comes to animals, I want a facility that is beyond reproach, and that is the least you can ask for,” said Memphis Mayor-Elect A C Wharton, who was there for the raid. “And I won't stop until we get that.”
No one was arrested during the raid. Evidence collected by the Sheriff's office will be handed over to a grand jury which will make a decision about whether to indict anyone. While the investigation is underway, veterinarians and volunteers from animal advocacy groups will staff the shelter. The Sheriff's office is also asking people to refrain from dropping off animals at the shelter. Tuesday, about 40 dogs were dropped off, but the shelter doesn't have space to house them.
