Memphis Mayor A C Wharton stopped euthanasia at the Memphis Animal Shelter on Wednesday after shelter employees killed a dog without following shelter procedures, according to sources familiar with the shelter.
The improper euthanasia of the dog and Wharton's decree come eight days after authorities, responding to reports of abuse and mistreatment, raided and closed the shelter.
The shelter reopened under city control last week after Shelby County sheriff's deputies and national animal-abuse investigators finished gathering evidence.
No criminal charges have been filed and they won't be until after the investigation is completed, which could take several weeks.
Local animal-rights advocates plan to hold a candlelight vigil tonight in honor of the animals at the shelter. The vigil will begin at the animal shelter at 3456 Tchulahoma at 6 p.m.
During last week's raid, deputies seized 17 boxes of documents, four computers, six CDs or DVDs and empty dog-food bags, according to a search warrant. At least three dogs died of starvation while at the Shelter.
The warrant stated that there was probable cause to believe laws were being violated by city animal services administrator Ernest Alexander and shelter employees.
Alexander and the shelter employees remain on the job while Wharton awaits the results of an internal investigation later this week, Wharton said Tuesday.
Deputies are still sifting through the evidence and won't present an investigative report to the Shelby County District Attorney General's Office for several weeks.
This just is very sad that it had to come to this. Those animals suffered and continues too because of red tape crap. If there were better laws in this made by the states legislation there would be less people like this Shelter getting away with scaring these animals for life.. Too bad that they don't have an eye for an eye laws for people like Yalanda McFadgon and Ernest Alexander. I hope the courts throw the book at them and could throw harder if there were better laws against this kind of cruelty that happens everywhere in all states. Please speak up and be heard for these animals and many like them. Write your congress and law makers of your state please..