Mayor Wharton Takes Action on Animal Shelter

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The words sounded like a sentiment more likely to have been uttered by the late zoologist, Marlon Perkins on his famed "Wild Kingdom" television show, than the mayor of the 19th largest city in the country.

But, coming out of the mouth of an obviously concerned Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, his comment had the necessary ring of being heartfelt.

Wharton said, "We are still a compassionate, caring and loving city, particularly for the least of these, our pets who cannot speak up. I see that. I see the passion reflected in those letters and E-mails. I see that."

Less than 24 hours after a hundred animal lovers held a candlelight vigil to call for immediate action, Wharton decisively moved to announce the firing of Memphis Animal Services Administrator Ernest Alexander and the suspension with pay of three other city animal shelter employees.

At a Friday news conference outside the shelter, Wharton cited improper and lack of proper documentation, inadequate administrative oversight and missing paperwork as the main reasons behind Alexander's ouster after only a year on the job.

Wharton asserted, "We have no tolerance particularly in those areas of direct care of animals. And the paperwork causes a big problem. It's just like the airlines. If you don't have the paperwork to back it up then you didn't do it."

Wharton addressed the temporary void in shelter management by appointing former General Services Asst. Director Darrell Eldred as interim facility manager. He also named former Regional Medical Center executive, Lucy Shaw, as a special consultant to assess the standard of healthcare the animals will receive. Her information will be shared with knowledge gained from an already formed task force who's been involved in the review of the shelter's entire operation.

When ask why she volunteered her services, Shaw responded, "There are people who love animals. They're people who love and express their passion in all kinds of ways. And so this is an opportunity for the city to reach out and embrace those whose passion is animals."

Wharton took the occasion to personally apologize for not moving quick enough to stop the euthanasia of one animal right after the Mayor chose to re-instate Alexander and others while the investigation into various complaints was underway.

Wharton lamented, "We did have one animal that was put down without going through our procedures. Not somebody else's procedures."

New procedures and safeguards, as of Friday morning, included the operation of eight cameras inside the shelter for constant viewing of operations. But, while these changes are "quick fixes," in some cases, Wharton warned finding a new permanent and capable operations manager for the shelter will take time.

Wharton concluded, "I've learned in my years of experience, there are two groups of professionals that are hard to replace.....Medical Examiners and animal shelter directors. It's very difficult. So, it is not going to be easy."