Memphis Animal Services officially has a new director following a unanimous city council vote appointing interim Director Ty Coleman to the position permanently.
Prior to his appointment as interim director, Coleman garnered a decade of experience in animal welfare management in various Texas towns and cities. Most recently, he served as the Animal Services Manager for Midland, Texas.
Coleman did not make any remarks at the city council meeting. Both Councilwoman Janika White and Councilman J.B. Smiley expressed optimism about Coleman’s appointment based on his work so far as interim director.
“I’m impressed,” Smiley said, “and it takes a lot to impress me.”
Coleman, who took over as interim director in September, is tasked with pushing the animal save rate to at least 90% or more — a daunting task in the face of a city shelter routinely inundated with large numbers of animals seized from animal cruelty cases.
According to city data, the animal save rate — the rate of animals rescued and adopted versus being euthanized for space, aggression, or illness — dipped to 61.4% in June, the lowest point since former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland was elected for his first term.