Memphis Animal Services (MAS) has been making headlines recently, not just for a canine casualty allegedly due to overheating but now due to its director, Ty Coleman, who's embroiled in an internal investigation. A statement obtained by Action News 5 revealed Coleman was placed on leave while facing "serious allegations," details of which remain undisclosed as the inquiry is ongoing. Meanwhile, Mary Claire Borys has stepped in as interim director amid lingering questions over the facility’s capability to look after its animal residents.
Presenting to the Memphis City Council on Tuesday, Borys, alongside Memphis Chief Operating Officer Antonio Adams, laid out a recovery strategy for MAS. According to a report by Action News 5, the turnaround plan included short-term 30-, 60-, and 90-day markers, as well as longer six-month objectives. Increased staffing emerged as a top necessity, with a push to rehire former staff and an urgent appeal for more veterinary support, as MAS operates with just one part-time veterinarian, significantly curtailing essential medical services.
The facility is experiencing a significant surgical backlog, which directly prevents many dogs from reaching their potential homes. During a discussion reported by Action News 5, Borys emphasized, "We have about 93 dogs right now that either have an adoption or a foster placement, but I can’t release them from the shelter until they’re spayed or neutered." Ensuring these animals become adoption-ready through vital spay and neuter procedures is a clear priority for MAS, as underscored by the improvement initiative. Twenty dogs, as it stands, are queued for surgery on the existing schedule.
Plans to extend operational reforms were disclosed in another report by Commercial Appeal, which include stepping up the drive for a spay/neuter mobile van, ramping up enforcement against animal cruelty, and rejuvenating partnerships with community enforcement to safeguard pets' welfare. Although the precise nature of the allegations against Coleman has not been discussed publicly, the efforts to stabilize and strengthen MAS's veterinary care and advisory board within the next 30 days has been put into sharper focus.
Given the gravity of the situation, MAS leaders are seeking public participation to help sculpt the shelter's transformation. A plan reported by FOX13 Memphis calls for improvements on various fronts including upgrading the shelter's website to enhance communication and formulating updated adoption and rescue procedures, personnel education programs, and assessing grant opportunities to furnish further support.
