The authorities, which have been operating since 1827, reported a concerning case of animal cruelty in the 2300 block of Staten Avenue. In a social media post, the Memphis Police Department disclosed that yesterday morning, their officers, alongside Memphis Animal Services (MAS), responded to a complaint indicating that an owner was neglecting a group of dogs.
The social media announcement detailed the finding of multiple malnourished dogs who appeared to have been failed by their owner, lacked access to food, water, and shelter, were not provided with minimal standards of cleanliness, and were surrounded by excessive animal waste. This came to light after a visit to the residence of 65-year-old Tom Rivers, who, interestingly, had faced a prior complaint about the poor living conditions for animals as far back as September 26, 2023, yet here we are again.
According to the authorities, MAS was compelled to confiscate 29 dogs from the premises due to the severity of the situation.
Rivers, who had dodged the bullet on the first complaint, now finds himself facing charges of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a much more severe response from law enforcement than the initial report elicited.
