MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Animal rescue groups in the Memphis area are working overtime to get dogs and puppies out of the cold.
Groups like Streetdog Foundation, All 4s Rescue League and Real Good Dog Rescue are being inundated with calls from people concerned about dogs left in chains or in yards without any kind of shelter.
“We have taken in several dogs over the last few days, although we aren’t a traditional intake rescue per se. The strays are everywhere, but the conditions for owned pets in these temps are incredibly sad if the owners refuse to bring them inside,” said Blair Terry with All 4s Rescue League.
All 4s Rescue League said it is one of the only local rescues that spends the majority of its time in the field and over the last few days has been distributing doghouses, straw, and food.
Friday night, the group rescued a female dog and her six pups from under a house by the old Mid-South Coliseum.
They have also been trying to work with pet owners and have posted other recent rescues on their Facebook page.
“With these temperatures, the houses and the straw are not enough. So, we really encourage the owners to bring the dogs inside and we offer crates to them if they will do that,” said Terry
All 4s Rescue League has distributed at least 45 dog crates to dog owners in the last five days.
Streetdog Foundation and Real Good Dog Rescue have also been monitoring and rescuing dogs left in the cold.
Friday morning, Real Good Dog Rescue, Memphis Fire Fighters, and other good Samaritans helped orchestrate the rescue of a mother and five pups that had been living in a pipe on Swinnea in South Memphis.
All of the rescue groups are asking animal owners to bring their pets inside during this cold snap. Temperatures in the Memphis area are expected to drop into the teens Saturday and plummet into the single digits Monday night.
Stay up-to-date on the weather in the Mid-South
Animal rescue groups are also encouraging citizens to call the Memphis Police Department’s non-emergency number if they see a dog without shelter or in trouble during these frigid temperatures.
This week, MAS put out an urgent call for foster families. MAS said due to a spike in calls from residents concerned citizens, their kennels are full. The rescue groups are also in desperate need of foster homes.
If you see a dog that needs help, call (901) 545-COPS.
