Adopted Memphis shelter dog’s condition draws concern: ‘You could smell the infection.’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A dog was adopted after she was brought to Memphis Animal Services with serious wounds treated by clinic staff.

However, the person who adopted the dog reached out to WREG Investigators with concerns.

This all started when MAS posted a picture as part of an urgent plea. The shelter was at full capacity, and the dog one of several with medical issues. They needed help saving her life.

That’s when a woman from Wisconsin gave MAS a call. She wants to remain anonymous, but wanted to tell the next part of this story.

On August 3, the dog — now named Pepper — was set to be adopted.

“She was heartworm positive, so that was the only thing I, as the adopter, was in charge of doing,” the adopter said.

That and get the stitches removed from an “embedded collar wound” MAS treated.

“It took a really long time for them to bring her out to me,” she said.

She said Pepper came out wrapped in a bandage, but says staff didn’t mention anything abnormal. In the car she snapped a picture for her husband.

“And he actually messaged me and he was like, ‘That looks really bloody like, what’s wrong with her?'” she said. “And you could smell the infection.”

She says she waited, as instructed, until he got home to take the bandage off.

“Just dripping pus, and there were parts that were gaped open,” the adopter described.

She showed pictures we’ve blurred because they’re too graphic for TV.

“It was just a continuous suture technique which was coming unraveled,” she said.

The city stated in part “in preparation for release to adoptive parents,” the dog was “seen on August 3” and there was “no evidence” the wounds were open “when the bandage was changed.” It’s unclear when that check happened and when Pepper was handed over.

Her new owner said she immediately took Pepper to her vet, who noted a large amount of discharge including around the surgery site closures.

“It was so infected and has been infected for a while. We couldn’t even close it right away, so we’ve been having to do bandage changes,” she said.

She said a culture of the wound showed the bacteria cocci and traces of MRSA, a form of a staph bacteria.

The city says MAS “does not test for MRSA” since it’s “not common in cats and dogs” and while vets said cocci can be more common, MAS reports “no outbreak.”

“I brought in all of the medication given to me. We noticed one of the antibiotics is not listed on her discharge paperwork,” the adopter said.

Pepper’s new vet also noticed the pain medication bottle from MAS stated the dog needed two doses daily, which is double the amount for the dog’s size. The correct amount was listed in the MAS’ medical records.

An independent vet told us if the dog took double the amount for a long period of time, it could cause serious issues.

The city said vet assistants fill out the bottle and further added, “We cannot discuss the content of adopted animals’ medical records without receiving permission from their owners.”

In June, MAS Director Ty Coleman was placed on leave pending an investigation. It was after both vets and other staff left.

City officials say until those positions are filled, they are using “part time and relief” vets and brought in a new interim director. They are at the clinic 2-5 days a week depending on scheduling.

The interim director stated in part, MAS is “currently over capacity by around 100 dogs and 40 cats,” and they are in “dire need from the community” to help “save these pets.”

“I think that they are a crucial resource to the people in the community,” Pepper’s adopter said. “This is definitely not a dig at the shelter at all. It’s just, it’s making sure that quality of care is my priority.”

Pepper’s adopter says she just wanted to help, and she’s glad she did given that she works in a vet clinic. Pepper underwent surgery.

“She is a fighter and is adjusting to our house very very well,” she aid.

She sent video and pictures of Pepper now. The dog she planned to foster but is now keeping.

The city said its investigation into MAS started late June and is still ongoing.

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