MAS hosts to ‘Empty the Shelter’ drive to combat overcrowding

CORDOVA, Tenn. — Memphis Animal Services is asking for help as there are dozens more dogs in the shelter than there should be.

Just last week, MAS said it was in “crisis mode” since there were 315 dogs in the shelter with 185 kennels.

After the plea, the public stepped up and adopted more than 100 dogs, however, assistance is still needed.

WREG spoke with the Interim Director of MAS to learn what’s driving the shelter’s overcapacity.

“We’re out of complete insanity level in crisis and into normal level of insanity,” said Interim MAS Director Mary Claire Borys.

However, Borys knows that at any moment that could change.

“(We’re) trying to balance the dogs that are here and then make space for the newcomers,” Borys said.

As it turns out, overcapacity isn’t just a Memphis problem.

“Shelters being over capacity is a national issue right now. Memphis is not unique,” Borys said. “A lot of it seems to have to do with the economy. We get a lot of people who are having trouble affording the health care or the feeding care for their pets.”

There’s also the lasting effects of the COVID era.

People who worked from home and adopted pets are still returning to the office. So, they’re not home as much to take care of a pet.

“We’re seeing more and more issues with when people relocate in terms of their housing. They’re not able to take the dogs with them to the new location,” Borys said. “More and more property owners are not allowing dogs on their properties and that’s a huge issue in a city like Memphis that has so many renters.”

Borys said that these issues combined with a lack of spay and neutering are creating a “perfect storm” for shelters all over the South.

To help pet owners, MAS has a pet resource center that offers vouchers to assist with medical care, food and other resources.

“We want to do everything that we can to take away barriers, so people can keep their beloved pets with them,” Borys said.

MAS is partnering with the Bissell Pet Foundation for an “Empty the Shelter” drive.

So, from now until October 15, Bissell will pay the adoption fee.

All of the animals from MAS come spayed or neutered, microchipped and will have their rabies shot and all other vaccinations done to ensure their health care needs are met for about a year.

MAS is also looking for people to foster the animals on a short-term basis as well as volunteer.

For more information on how you can help, visit Memphis Animal Service’s website here .

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