1) Dogs with "known owners" are not subject to the "hold thru the due out date" policy. The shelter can decide to have a 'known owner' dog PTS ON the due out date. When would this situation occur? When an owner has been contacted and that owner will NOT reclaim and they "sign the dog" over to the shelter.

2) If anyone sees a dog posted that has a "known owner" and they are interested in adopting that dog, they need to call or go to the shelter BEFORE the due out date. Ask for or go to the adoption window - have the cage # and the ID # - ask the person in the adoption window for the owner status of that dog. If the owner has NOT been contacted, the dog will likely be held thru the due out date. If the owner has been contacted: a) the owner intends to reclaim and the shelter is holding the dog for the owner, or b) the owner will NOT reclaim and has "signed over" the dog to the shelter. In the case of "b)", I think (not sure) that you must request that the paperwork be marked ("A") so that the dog will be held THRU the due out date and have the chance to be adopted.

3) SO -- if you think you are AT ALL interested in adopting a 'known owner' dog in quarantine, you have to let the shelter know BEFORE the due out date. It is not a 'paperwork marking' thing -- the shelter will attach a 'continuation' form to the dog's paperwork. On that form it will be noted that someone is interested in adopting the dog if the owner is not reclaiming (or no contact has been made with the owner).

For most (not all) stray puppies and SOME adult SMALL dogs that would fit in puppy adoption (such as chihuahuas, terriers) -- unless a puppy or small dog is sick or there is otherwise something seriously wrong with it, the pup or small dog will be moved to adoption if not adopted at the end of the holding period.

SOME adult dogs can get moved to adoption, but the adoption area is much smaller than holding - 1/3 number of cages. The staff evaluate adult dogs for their viability to be adopted. At least some mixes (and many full breeds) that are in good health and have a good personality should be moved to adoption. This will still be on a 'dog by dog' basis (so to speak), day by day. And, this will depend on how much room is available in adoption. So many adult dogs will not make it to adoption from holding. Also, dogs in adoption are NOT kept indefinitely -- if not adopted in approximately two weeks, they are put down.

Pit bulls (or any dog labeled as such) are not available for adoption. The shelter policy is that pit bulls are potentially vicious and unadoptable. If the owner does not claim them, they are put down after the holding period.

Only adoption area animals are on this site because the turnover for strays is too frequent to adequately keep them updated here. To see dogs or cats in stray that need to be rescued, go to this site: http://community.webshots.com/user/sylviacox

The shelter is located at 3456 Tchulahoma Rd. in Memphis, TN Phone # 901-362-5310. The facility is just north of Winchester road on the east side of Tchulahoma, near the airport.

Memphis Animal Shelter
3456 Tchulahoma Road

Memphis, TN 38118
Phone: 901-362-5310

 
Click here for a list of pets at this shelter

From: Claiborne Shelter [mailto:claibornecountyshelter@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 7:13 PM
Subject: Chihuahua's in need


Hi,
I live in Tazewell TN(NE TN) and I was wondering if you may could help with a situation we have.  There is an elderly lady that had around 15 chi's.She went into the nursing home and we got a call from her brother about the conditions the dogs were living in. So me and a fellow animal control board member went to the house to get the dogs.It was really bad.Feces and urine everywhere(the lady was only gone a week and it didn't get this bad in a week)..dead puppies...a live copperhead in the house. The smell in there was horrible. Anyway..all the dogs were terrified and were NOT letting us get near them,but with a little teamwork..and a few bites later..we were able to get all but 4 of the dogs...which we will go back after in a couple of days(they were outside in the fenced yard and we weren't able to get them..and told the family to try to lock them up inside when they go to feed them). So we really don't have a shelter here..it is an old ladies home and we do NOT take animals out there...we are trying to get homes for the one's she does have out there...not take her more. We do not have anywhere to keep all these dogs long term.We cannot afford the care for all of them...We got an estimate for over 1500 at the vet's office(minus the other 4)and simply cannot come up with the funds to help all of these dogs.Plus we don't have enough people to foster these dogs,especially since some are not very nice.Some of the dogs are getting better about not trying to bite,but there are a few that will still try to bite. We did get a foster for a very pregnant chi and were able to neuter the very friendly male.  We are going to have to come up with a solution VERY soon.If we take them to either one of the neighboring shelters,I am sure most will be euthanized because they are very scared and timid and some will bite.I think with a little bit of patience and love that all of these dogs would be adoptable,but we simply do not have the people or funds to get the dogs the care they need.  Thanks  Bethany 

 

--
Debbie Raibley
Boston Rescue - Maryville and Alcoa TN Areas
Maryville/Alcoa TN 37803

http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/TN254.html