21-03-2025
Woman tries to help dog left in car in South Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis woman said it took three days to get help for a dog left inside a car in South Memphis.
The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, feeds dogs and cats throughout the city. She said Monday, she and her mother witnessed a pit bull fighting with another dog in the 1700 block of South Silver and called 911 and Memphis Animal Services.
'We could not break it up,' she said. 'We called the police five or six times, and they said they were sending it to animal control. We waited an hour and left.'
The woman said she was shocked when she returned to the house the next day and saw the pit bull trapped inside a white Infiniti parked behind the home. She said an animal control officer was also there but left without the dog.
'I said, please don't leave him in the car, and she said I need to call MPD to open the door, and she never called him, and then that's what I made a post because it was going on day three, and I'm like, he's just sitting in this car,' said the woman.
On Wednesday, she shared a video on Facebook showing her giving water to the very thirsty dog through a small, broken car window. She said the dog was being forced to spend a third night in the car, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Hundreds of dog lovers from all over the country shared, liked, and commented on the post.
'I have people from the Bronx in New York. I have people from Ohio. I have people and just different parts of Tennessee writing me,' she said.
Memphis Animal Services said it couldn't confirm the dog had been in the vehicle for three days.
MAS said an animal control officer did try to contact the owner but couldn't reach anyone and left a Notice to Comply. MAS said the dog was removed from the car and moved inside the house on Thursday.
'The law requires that we post a notice for the owner and provide them with a timeframe to comply if we are unable to make direct contact,' said MAS Marketing and Communications Supervisor Amanda Baggot. 'The timeframe is left to the officer's discretion based on their assessment of the risks facing the dog. The only time we are permitted to bypass this notice requirement is if the dog is in imminent danger of severe harm or death.'
But the woman who tried to help believes the dog suffered for three days, and she can't understand why the animal was allowed to stay with its owner.
'No food or water can't potty, and I fed him cheeseburgers and the bottle of water,' said the woman. 'He's scratching, trying to get out of this little SUV, crying. It was horrible last night.'
WREG went to the house, but no one was home, and the dog was not there.
The woman who went out of her way to care for the dog said she was able to find a foster home for the dog the pit bull was fighting. Unfortunately, she said, so many animals in Memphis are suffering.
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