There are 34 article(s) tagged Memphis Animal Services:

• December 2024

  • What does it take to be the next Memphis Animal Services director?

    After the firing of Memphis Animal Services Director Ty Coleman, Memphians in the local animal community have differing thoughts on what attributes the next director should have.

    By Jody Callahan December 05, 2024

  • Memphis Animal Services director removed, city officials confirm

    MAS Director Ty Coleman is out, city officials say, bringing an end to his tumultuous 14-month tenure as head of the city’s animal shelter.

    By Jody Callahan December 04, 2024

• October 2024

  • MAS director fired from previous job for alleged misconduct, lying

    According to his personnel file, Ty Coleman was fired from a Texas animal shelter for inappropriate behavior, including “sexual acts occurring at the work-site.” Although suspended, he still receives his Memphis Animal Services pay of $120,000. 

    By Jody Callahan October 25, 2024

  • MAS director still on city payroll amid investigations

    Memphis Animal Services director Ty Coleman was first suspended in June.

    By Jody Callahan October 15, 2024

• July 2024

  • Report on Memphis Animal Services notes lack of leadership

    The Best Friends Animal Society report comes on the heels of city interim COO telling Memphis City Council that MAS Director Ty Coleman, who was placed on leave, is facing “serious allegations.”

    By Jody Callahan July 24, 2024

  • Mayor Young appoints interim leader of Memphis Animal Services

    Memphis Mayor Paul Young made the appointment announcement at a Thursday night meeting of his administration with more than 35 animal advocates from across the area.

    By Jody Callahan July 12, 2024

  • Story of Winston the golden retriever highlights Animal Services’ issues

    One Memphis couple adopting a dog from Memphis Animal Services couldn’t take him home at first because the facility didn’t have the staff to sign off on the pet’s microchipping.

    By Jody Callahan July 03, 2024

• June 2024

  • Memphis Animal Services director placed on leave

    City spokesperson Arlenia Cole confirmed that Ty Coleman, who was previously fired from an animal shelter in Texas, has been placed on administrative leave after the death of a dog left outside in the heat.

    By Jody Callahan June 30, 2024

• May 2023

  • 90 chickens find safe place to roost at MAS

    Birds rescued from a suspected chicken fighting operation are putting a strain on Memphis Animal Services’ already overfilled capacity. 

    By Kambui Bomani May 12, 2023

• February 2023

  • Memphis Animal Services debuts play yards with stadium AstroTurf

    Dogs will romp on the same Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium turf that University of Memphis football players put blood, sweat and tears on, Coach Ryan Silverfield said.

    By Alicia Davidson February 07, 2023

  • The one that ‘goat’ away: Motorists spot mystery animal from I-40

    Memphis drivers have been encountering a different type of horn while driving on the interstate recently.

    By Jasmine McCraven February 07, 2023

  • City Council to focus on Tyre Nichols incident during three-hour discussion 

    The unusually long committee discussion comes with six ordinance proposals that would reform police policies and begins with what are expected to be lots of questions for Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis.

    By Bill Dries February 06, 2023

• January 2023

  • Animal lovers hopeful about proposed changes to city ordinances

    Amendments to animal welfare laws could include mandatory microchipping for pets, and modification to policies about dogs “running at large,” which animal welfare organizations see as key to stopping overpopulation and neglect.

    By Alicia Davidson January 15, 2023

  • Warmer than 32 or cooler than 95: New rules proposed for horse-drawn carriages

    The council approved the changes in the first of three votes on the ordinance Tuesday, Jan. 10. The changes are part of a larger group of animal ordinance amendments.

    By Bill Dries January 10, 2023

• December 2022

  • Klondike, Sheraton projects top year’s last City Council agenda

    The Memphis City Council session involves Klondike and Sheraton tax votes, as well as a look at the Dream Hotel next to Peabody Place and the city’s animal ordinance.

    By Bill Dries December 19, 2022

• November 2022

  • Memphis man named Animal Control Officer of the Year

    Memphis animal control officer Lawrence Higginbottom has won a national award for his daily efforts in the field to reunite pets with their owners. 

    By Don Wade November 07, 2022

• July 2022

  • Homeward bound: New model aims to reunite Memphis pets, owners

    Using an approach called “community-centered sheltering,” Memphis Animal Services has developed a pet-resource center to help owners with everything from behavioral training to veterinary bills.

    By Don Wade July 20, 2022

  • Memphis Animal Services director has improved MAS, but still has detractors

    In the past six years, Alexis Pugh has led Memphis Animal Services through what some have called a miraculous transformation. However, some controversial changes lead others to disagree with her approach. 

    By Daja E. Henry July 07, 2022

• June 2022

  • Tigers help bring in blood donors at Overton Square fest

    In addition to helping Vitalant reduce the Memphis area’s shortage of blood and platelet donors, football players also pitched in to assist some pups from Memphis Animal Services get a field trip.

    By Frank Bonner II June 26, 2022

• May 2022

  • Guest column: A shortage of pet-friendly housing hurts Memphians and their pets

    “What happens when there is a shortage of truly pet-inclusive housing in a community? Animals get surrendered to the shelter in great numbers, increasing the burden on the taxpayers and potentially increasing shelter euthanasia.”

    By Alexis Pugh May 21, 2022

• March 2022

  • Shelter to get help reuniting pets and owners

    The city’s animal shelter is hiring a “pet reunification specialist” with a $50,000 grant from a national animal welfare nonprofit.

    By Bill Dries March 14, 2022

• July 2021

  • The Early Word: Redbirds make history. Hardaway recycles it.

    Just for fun, enjoy a cold one at Grind City and take a selfie at Pose 901. Let history record the Redbirds streak, and the removal of Forrest’s bust. Meanwhile, Hardaway makes his own history ... and repeats it.

    By Andrew A. Smith July 23, 2021

• February 2021

  • Man charged in connection with suspected cockfighting operation at East Memphis home

    A man was arrested at an East Memphis area home and charged in a suspected cockfighting operation. Police and animal services seized more than 200 roosters and hens. 

    By Yolanda Jones February 26, 2021

  • Investigators puzzled by dumping of animal carcasses on public land

    Someone has been dumping dead horses, cows and deer on county land not far from a public trail along the Wolf River near Shelby Farms. Investigators can’t figure out who.

    By Christopher Fulton February 05, 2021

• January 2021

  • Calkins: Silverfield adds another impact transfer (this one will lick his face)

    Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield added a transfer this week with excellent quickness and a low center of gravity. Happily, it’s a dog.

    By Geoff Calkins January 15, 2021