Cruelty Case Studies
Each year the Memphis & Shelby County Humane Society investigates over 300 cases of animal abuse in Memphis. While a story about abused pets will make local or national news in rare cases, similar abuses occur every day right here in Memphis.
The mission of MSCHS is to prevent animal cruelty, rescue abused animals, and bring puplic awareness to this under-reported but serious problem.
Mack
A 4 month-old shepherd mix was found barely alive, inside a plastic bag, in a North Memphis driveway with a steak knife sticking out of its back Tuesday, April 22, 2008. The puppy's face had also been spray-painted with red paint.
Dr. Blackburn and the staff of Gentle Care Animal Hospital cared for Mack for weeks, and though Mack improved greatly with the service and love from Gentle Care, he ultimately had to be euthanized on Saturday, May 31st. Mack did not have any feeling in his lower back and back legs which allowed him to contort and twist his body in ways that allowed him to fracture one of his back legs.
Faith
Faith was found at New Hope Church. Faith apparently knew what she was doing when she wandered up to their door steps starving and hairless.
When she came to us Faith weighted only 20lbs. Her ideal body weight should be around 40lbs. Faith was emaciated, which means that her body was feeding off of her muscle because there was no fat for it to feed off of. Faith also has mange, which is why there is no hair on her body.
We are feeding her small amounts of food several times a day because she can’t hold down a lot of food at one time. She is being treated daily with antibiotics. As well as being treated for mange which involves bathing and dipping her several times a week.
Faith is getting her “faith” back a little every day. We are hoping she will be up for adoption in the next several months.
Fudge
Fudge was found in a ditch on Fite Road. A citizen was driving by and saw him laying there and at first thought he was dead. Then she saw him raise his head. She turned around and came back. When she got out, he wagged his tail. She got him in her car and brought him to the Humane Society.
Fudge had numerous bite wounds, a broken toe on his right front paw, his gums were pale, he had open wounds all over his legs, and he was malnourished. He had to have his leg put in a splint to stabilize the break. We also had to bandage his many wounds.
He was put on antibiotics and pain medications. His feeding schedule had to be slow at first because he was so malnourished. It took 3 days for his gums to return to pink. He may always have a permanent limp where the break was.
Fudge is about a year old.
Rico
Rico was brought to us because a concerned person saw him and realized that someone had cut his tail off. Rico was extremely emaciated weighing in at only 27lbs when he should have weighed over 40lbs.
We immediately put him on pain medication and antibiotics. Unfortunately, we had to get him to gain some weight before we could do surgery on his tail. When a dog is emaciated we have to feed him small meals several times a day because if he eats too much at once it could make him sick.
Once Rico gained a little weight we were able to surgically remove what was left of his tail and repair the wound. Rico is slowly gaining weight and his tail area is healing.
Selena
Selena was found in the airport area looking for food. She seemed to be losing her will to survive when she was brought to us. When she arrived she only weighted 22lbs. Selena was emaciated and her body was feeding off of her muscles because there wasn’t any fat on her. She had to be feed 5 -6 small meals per day.
At the time she was brought in she was too weak for us to even vaccinate. She had to be treated for mange. Selena is finally getting her will to live back now that she has the proper care that she needs.