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Candlelight vigil at Memphis animal shelter
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Photo: Nikki Boertman
More than 100 pet lovers gathered on November 5th for a candlelight vigil at the City of Memphis Animal Shelter. They were there to honor the memory of the innocent cats and dogs that died at the shelter because of mistreatment.
The vigil came about as a result of a raid that was made on the city-run shelter on October 27th after a whistle-blower called attention to the problem by secretly taking photos of starving and abused pets. Those pictures were dropped off with District Attorney Bill Gibbons – who ultimately ordered the raid.
Gibbons even recruited help from the ASPCA Forensics Team. They collected evidence for the investigation which now includes 17 boxes of documents, 4 computers and 6 CD’s or DVD’s.
Animal advocates that attended the vigil carried signs that read “Justice for the Innocent” and chanted “Fire Alexander.” They were referring to Ernest Alexander who is the Animal Services Administrator for the city.
Alexander was hired to rehabilitate the Memphis animal shelter, but is accused of ignoring complaints made by volunteers about animals without food or water and of sick pets being exposed to healthy ones. There were also complaints about policies not being followed by employees for euthanizing animals.
It was also confirmed that a female mixed breed puppy died of “non-accidental starvation.” The investigation also uncovered trouble in Alexander’s past work experience with the animal shelter in Albuquerque, NM.
Memphis Mayor- AC Wharton has acted quickly to protect the homeless pets at the shelter. He has suspended euthanasia until the initial investigation is complete and installed Web Cams throughout the shelter.
And today he fired Ernest Alexander from his position as Animal Services Administrator.
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