“There are serious allegations”: Council members get update on MAS problems

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Nearly a month after MAS Director Ty Coleman was placed on leave, Memphis City Council members received an update on conditions at Memphis Animal Services.

During a council committee meeting Tuesday, the city’s Chief Operating Officer, Antonio Adams, presented a 30-day—to six-month performance improvement plan for the animal shelter.

Adams said the shelter hopes to stabilize operations at MAS immediately by getting permanent vet services, bringing back former staff, meeting with volunteers, rescue groups, and animal advocates, and re-establishing the shelter’s advisory board.

“And we are in constant search for animal care officers and animal care technicians,” said Adams.

Coleman, who has been on the job for less than a year, was placed on leave shortly after a dog died of heat-related illness in shelter custody. Mary Claire Borys is now overseeing the daily operations of MAS on an interim basis.

Borys said the shelter is currently dealing with a significant backlog of dogs that need to be spayed or neutered.

“I’ve got a backlog of 93 dogs that have a foster or placement, but I can’t release them until they are spayed or neutered. I have I think 23 scheduled for surgery. We are calling clinics,” said Borys.

Adams said he didn’t know the status of The Shelter Advisory Committee but acknowledged that the board had not met in some time.

Last month, one member, Dr. Jennifer Karnes, told WREG that two longtime veterinarians and several supervisors at the city shelter had resigned under Coleman’s leadership.

Adams could not give council members an update on the investigation of Coleman or address any leadership changes.

“There are serious allegations, serious allegations against this young man, but before we put that information out, we should allow the investigation to rest, and then we allow his due process to run its course, and then we move,” said Adams.

Borys said MAS plans to work with MPD to enhance enforcement efforts when it comes to cases of animal abuse and cruelty in the community.

She said Memphis Animal Services was able to restart its adoption events and is considering holding some mass spaying and neutering events in the near future.

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