NASHVILLE, Tenn.- A local
animal shelter is being dubbed an execution house by a group of animal rights
activists.
The group took over the
town square in Lewisburg to protest how the city is handling the euthanasia
process, and they are hoping to evoke change. The protest stems from a decision
made by the city manager last week. Tommy Engram ordered 13 animals to be put
down at animal control, but demonstrators say their deaths were completely
unnecessary because nine of those dogs had rescue organizations on the way to
pick them up while they were being put to sleep.
Volunteers with those
rescue groups, as well as animal rights activists, wanted the city to know they
will not let that decision go away quietly. They want more transparency in how
the local government is running animal control, and they want to know why the
decision was to euthanize the dogs when they could have been saved within a few
hours. These protestors called it a senseless loss of life that was politically
motivated.
"We don't back down; we
fight for animal rights, and we've been told multiple times that we are the
crazy dog people, but we are. We are here for the dogs, and we aren't going to
let this go away. We want answers. We want to know why they put the dogs down;
we want more transparency in their practices and procedures," said Ronnie Van
Zandt.
NewsChannel 5 tried to
get in touch with Engram and other city officials. Engram and the mayor replied
to initial emails, but have yet to send a response to the questions asked.
