Memphis Animal Services (MAS) Director Ty Coleman has been put on administrative leave, an action confirmed by the City of Memphis amidst growing concerns over shelter conditions. The decision comes after the recent death of a dog in MAS custody, which has drawn considerable public scrutiny. In a statement reported by Action News 5, representatives confirmed Coleman's leave but did not elaborate on the terms or the duration.
According to a WREG report, the chairwoman of a city advisory committee made it clear that the dog, known as Lulu, died from extreme heat, with her body temperature having surpassed 109 degrees. Ty Coleman had only been MAS director for less than a year, having initially been appointed as interim director on September 5 of the previous year. Despite the mounting controversy, MAS has not yet released a formal statement concerning either the animal's death or Coleman’s current leave of absence.
Concern was also expressed by the local nonprofit All 4s Rescue League. They claimed to have previously microchipped Lulu and had already found a new owner for her. "Any time a dog suffers in any manner anywhere it is disturbing," Suzy Hollenbach from the organization told FOX13. Further stressing the grave nature of the incident, Hollenbach said, "That dog absolutely baked in the yard at Memphis Animal Services." She also indicated a call for accountability, stating, "Had that happened anywhere else on a property in Memphis, we would be pursuing animal cruelty charges. We will absolutely insist that that happens in this situation." This sentiment was relayed in an interview disclosed by FOX13.
In light of the dog's death, MAS took to social media to announce the incident and confirm the shelter was adjusting its outdoor play areas to offer more shade. This response has come under fire from criticizers, particularly after images shown to FOX13 by All 4s Rescue League indicated thermometer readings exceeding 150 degrees in the area where Lulu was found unresponsive. Blair Terry with All 4s Rescue League expressed a measured approval of the city's handling of the situation, yet noted, "It’s an alarming situation and I think we are pretty pleased with how the mayor’s office has handled this whole thing." As the community awaits further developments, many agree with Hollenbach's stark assessment: "This is not acceptable."
