Memphis has named a new figurehead to lead the city's animal services after a trying period marked by leadership upheaval and disease outbreaks, announcing Suzy Hollenbach as the prospective director for Memphis Animal Services (MAS), Action News 5 reported; Hollenbach, a native of Memphis with over 15 years in the field of animal welfare, steps up to usher in a vision for an equitable and compassionate approach to the welfare of the city’s animals during her tenure, which officially commenced Wednesday, pending city council endorsement.
Following the departure of Ty Coleman, who was released from his duties as director in the wake of an investigation and amidst closures due to canine distemper virus outbreaks, Hollenbach comes with a commendable background, being the founder of “All 4s Rescue League,” an organization dedicated to the betterment of local pet owners through provision of food, shelter, and essentials, also she was honored as an Action News 5 Mid-South Hero in 2019 due to her contributions to animal welfare, WREG disclosed.
“My vision is a Memphis Animal Services that functions in unity, serving the entire city, where all neighborhoods and residents receive the same level of response and our animal population is addressed humanely,” Hollenbach told Commercial Appeal, pinpointing her commitment to long-term solutions that address the needs of both pets and their human counterparts in the community.
MAS aims to not only mend but also to bolster the connections between the shelter and the people it serves, with plans to expand leadership, they hope to initiate long-term progress, and seek to build community trust, improve operational processes, and create more support systems for both people and pets, promises that come on the heels of a shelter closure after two separate incidents of canine distemper virus, which signaled a need for steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to animal welfare, according to Action News 5.
COO for the City of Memphis, Antonio Adams underscored the importance of community in shaping the direction of MAS, stating, “Suzy Hollenbach’s appointment shows what’s possible when we listen to our community,” and citing the imperative to build a “safer, stronger Memphis for both” people and pets, as reported by Action News 5.
