Memphis, TN -- Shirley Lyn Thistlethwaite, a South Carolina resident, writes about animal welfare issues in her blog YesBiscuit! In recent months she has directed her readers’ attention to the Memphis Animal Services (MAS) and the mistreatment and killing of the animals in its care. While some cities nationwide are now saving 90% or more of all animals entering their open admission shelter, MAS kills between 73% to 77% of all its animals.
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. recently described MAS employees as “well trained and compassionate,” but Ms. Thistlethwaite’s blog, and MAS’ own web cam images, show otherwise.
Ms. Thistlethwaite has blogged about, amongst other things, a cat in labor repeatedly poked with a stick; puppies placed in trash cans and kittens in litter boxes to more easily transfer them to the kill room; and animals grabbed and carried by their forelimbs. In an attempt to play a more direct role in saving the dogs and cats from MAS, Ms. Thistlethwaite started a ChipIn account and asked her readers to donate money so that some of the animals could leave MAS alive.
Instead of praising her for these efforts, the city of Memphis attempted to scare Ms. Thistlethwaite into silence. She recently received a warning letter from Memphis City Attorney Herman Morris Jr. in essence telling her to stop trying to help the animals. The letter claims she is violating South Carolina law because she is asking for donations “on behalf of Memphis Animal Services” without their written consent. The letter then orders her to “cease and desist” these activities and that “failure to comply with this notice will force this office to consider all legal options in addressing this matter.”
While Ms. Thistlethwaite has closed her ChipIn account and stopped asking for donations, she denies ever seeking funds on behalf of MAS. In a phone interview yesterday, she said “I was not raising funds ‘on behalf of [MAS],’ none of my readers thought that. If anyone asked me to raise funds for them I’d say ‘not one penny.’... I was raising funds for the pets so they could get out.”
Ms. Thistlethwaite has also written a letter to the TN state attorney general asking them to investigate this matter. She writes:
“I believe the threat from the City Attorney was designed to intimidate me, in violation of my First Amendment rights. I’ve also since learned that the Memphis City Attorney and Mayor’s Office have allegedly intimidated other bloggers who have spoken out against city policies (see letter from the ACLU to the City of Memphis, dated June 14, 2011, attached).
I ask that you investigate whether the City Attorney’s actions violate the TN Anti-SLAPP statute and whether his actions constitute a breach of 42 U.S.C. Section 1983. I further request you investigate whether the Mayor’s Office directed Mr. Morris to send me this letter, since that person (or persons) may be complicit in these possible violations of law.”
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