WREG examines current investigations by the MAS director

Ty Coleman (Photo courtesy of Memphis Animal Services)

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The director of Memphis Animal Services who was placed on leave just five months into his new job had previously worked at a Texas animal shelter, news reports show.

Ty Coleman was placed on leave from the Memphis Animal Shelter last week pending an investigation after a dog in the shelter’s care died of heat-related illness.

The city has not released any information about the status of the investigation, its focus or its leader.

Coleman was appointed interim director in September and was unanimously appointed director by the City Council in January, with several officials offering him high praise. Coleman praised his previous positions, including “animal services director for the city of Midland, Texas.”

But our Nexstar station in Midland reported that there was an outbreak of distemper during his tenure and he did not successfully complete his one-year probationary period.

In this station’s reporting, Coleman admitted in a public address at a Midland City Council meeting that he was fired.

He also expressed concern that a dog had died after being left at the Midland animal shelter in the heat.

“Ever since I was fired, everyone has been upset about the city and everything that’s happened. Unfortunately, they let me know and ask me for advice on how to get through the day. Unfortunately, this has resulted in another dog dying,” Coleman said at the time.

Here in Memphis, shelter officials confirmed last week that a dog named Lulu died at the shelter on June 24. The preliminary cause of death was suspected to be heat. The high temperature that day was 97 degrees, and the heat index was over 100.

Several rescue groups expressed their outrage and demanded accountability.

The chair of the MAS advisory committee says Lulu’s body temperature was over 108 degrees when she was discovered. She also listed other problems that have arisen at MAS under Coleman’s leadership, such as the termination of two long-time veterinarians and several supervisors in recent months.

WREG investigators questioned the city about these resignations, and we filed several open records requests to find out what was really going on and learn more about Coleman’s background.

We asked Memphis city officials if they were aware of what happened in Midland, but have not yet received a response.

We have contacted Coleman regarding his sudden leave of absence.