Building Together: City of Memphis Weekly Newsletter

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This week, I’m using my platform in a slightly different way - usually I am sharing good news, but today my mission is to give some hard facts to help shed some light on the heartbreaking and urgent crisis of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV or Distemper) that is currently unresolved in our shelter system and putting additional animal lives at risk across our community. 

If you’ve been following the news, you know Memphis Animal Services (MAS) has had to make some incredibly tough decisions as the staff has worked to contain the spread of this devastating disease, including euthanizing too many animals impacted by the virus (over 200 in total since the beginning of this outbreak). These decisions are devastating to our MAS staff and I want to ask you to think about this situation in the same way you would think about a human viral epidemic. Highly contagious. Often deadly. Requiring extreme measures. Tragic for those on the front lines.

During this outbreak – which began in January – MAS has had to make other hard decisions, including twice closing to the public. Currently, the outside experts we are working with have recommended keeping the shelter closed to all intake, except for legally required cases, and closed to all public interactions other than adoption and foster pick-ups of healthy vaccinated dogs and owner reclaims, until the virus is fully cleared from our shelter population. This isn’t a decision we take lightly. It’s challenging for the staff and volunteers who pour their hearts into shelter work daily. It is challenging for the community, who relies on our services to pick up every stray animal. But the alternative – allowing the virus to continue to spread through an overcrowded shelter, infecting even more dogs, and potentially spreading the virus into the community – is simply not an option. Our diligence is not only about protecting the animals in our care but also safeguarding the health of the entire community.

Watch individual videos here:  Brooke #44963 Rose #44659 and seven 5-week-old pups 

So, what is Distemper and why is it so deadly? CDV is a highly contagious and aggressive virus that rapidly attacks dogs' respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. There is NO cure for distemper. And with no cure, prevention is our only line of defense. The virus spreads through direct contact, airborne exposure, and contaminated surfaces, making overcrowded shelters especially vulnerable. 

Here is a quote from one of our shelter experts about why it is so hard to manage: 

“The incubation period for CDV, defined as time between exposure and onset of disease symptoms, is typically 2 weeks. This long period causes delays in recognizing affected dogs and contributes to a slow insidious increase in number of dogs with disease. Infected dogs can be infectious to other susceptible dogs for weeks to months, typically 3 months. The long incubation and infectious periods have the greatest impact on options for management of CDV outbreaks in shelters.”

Inside the shelter, testing is the primary tool for detection, involving nasal swabs to identify the virus and blood draws to check for antibodies from previous vaccinations. These samples are sent to an out-of-state lab, with results sometimes taking several days. The combination of delayed symptoms, prolonged shedding/contagion period, and waiting for test results are factors that make controlling the spread of CDV incredibly challenging, especially in an already overcrowded shelter. That’s why immediate action, prevention, and community-wide vigilance are essential.

Watch individual videos here: Sunday #44645 Tapia #44931   

Recognizing the urgency of this crisis, we are actively working with the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program to develop stronger protocols to resolve the current outbreak and prevent future outbreaks. Additionally, we are implementing targeted vaccination strategies to keep animals safe. But these efforts alone are not enough.

What can we do as a community? To prevent the spread of CDV, it’s critical to move healthy dogs out of the shelter and into the community as quickly as possible. Every day a dog remains in the shelter increases its risk of contracting the virus. That’s why we urgently need more foster and adoptive families, as well as opportunities for transport to reputable rescues or forever homes. Even short-term fosters make a significant difference, providing a safe space for dogs while reducing the risk of exposure. Additionally, donations of essential supplies like bedding, towels, puppy formula, and nursing bottles are also incredibly valuable. 

Our most urgent request is to ask each of you to please vaccinate  your pets and keep them away from stray or unvaccinated animals, as this is essential to protecting them and others from illness.

And while this outbreak feels intensely personal - we’re not the only city struggling with CDV. Across the Southeast, distemper is making its rounds, especially in wildlife populations. A long-term study found CDV in nine different carnivore species across 17 states, and recent data (2019-2022) shows that over 58% of tested wild animals in 13 states were positive for the virus. Urban areas, like Memphis, are especially at risk because stray and shelter populations mix with infected wildlife more often.

Other shelters across the region have also felt the impact. In September 2024, Columbus Animal Care & Control in Georgia had to halt dog adoptions due to a distemper outbreak, disrupting operations and highlighting the virus's capacity to spread rapidly. Similarly, in July 2024, the Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, experienced a distemper outbreak, leading to the deaths of numerous dogs and causing significant disruption to shelter operations. They closed for intake until the crisis was resolved, which is the strategy we must also use to stop the spread.

Watch individual videos here: Coco (Windy) #39764 Zoya #44859 

These instances, along with our own challenges, highlight that CDV outbreaks are a persistent and widespread issue impacting shelters across the Southeast. And they also remind us that overcrowding is a constant threat that must be managed by more robust spay/neuter programs, with each of us playing a part in helping to control the animal population. 

I am a dog owner. A shelter-dog owner. This issue is personal to me. But this issue is bigger than just our shelter. It’s about all dogs in Memphis – our pets, our strays, our fosters. They simply can’t take the steps to control this disease themselves, so this is where we come in:

1. Vaccinate Your Dogs. Distemper is preventable with a simple vaccine. If your pup hasn’t had their shots, get them to a vet ASAP. No excuses.
2. Support Memphis Animal Services. Our shelter is in crisis mode right now. If you can foster, donate, or even spread the word, every little bit helps.
3. Be Kind to Shelter Staff. The staff and volunteers at MAS are doing everything they can to stop this outbreak. They need our support, not our criticism. We are in this together. 

Memphis, we have always been a city that fights for what’s right. Right now, we have to fight for our dogs. The remedy for this current situation isn’t going to be easy. We will need to close for intake for all but legally necessary intake until we have cleared the disease from the shelter. I am confident that working together we will get through this. 

Let’s do this, Memphis - let’s foster, adopt, and share these healthy dogs with our networks. 

Watch individual videos here: George #27375 Paris (Sunny) #35165 

All of the dogs shared here are marked “green” - or cleared to leave the shelter, which means they have tested negative for Distemper, have been vaccinated against it, and have antibodies to fight it. Again, we are pleading for your help—whether through rescue, networking, or adoption—so that these sweet souls don’t have to wait any longer.

Good News!

Do you have good news to share? We would love to share it! Send us a note at goodnews@memphistn.gov

Weekly Crime Trend

The report below provides our weekly update on Part 1 Crimes. It updates daily and shows a continuous rolling 7-day total compared to the prior 7-day total. The charts on the right show the calendar week trend, comparing 2023 to 2024.

(We maintain two crime dashboards, the Weekly Crime Trend report can be found here, and the Crime Analytics dashboard can be accessed here.)

Our Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38106, 38109, 38114, 38115, 38116, 38118, 38125

In the Know:

National Veterans Golden Age Games Volunteers. The 39th National Veterans Golden Games (NVGAG) are looking for energetic, dedicated individuals who will volunteer their time and talents which are essential to the success of the Games. Volunteers will receive one meal voucher and a t-shirt. Become a volunteer today! See more and share here. 

Neighborhood Watch: Build a Safer Community. Take action against crime in your neighborhood by joining or starting a Neighborhood Watch group through your local MPD station. Get resources, guidance, and access to the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Grant to support safety initiatives. Eligible neighborhood groups can apply for funding by attending a mandatory workshop and meeting key requirements. Learn more about how to protect and strengthen your community by attending one the workshops! See more and apply for the grant here. 

Safety Action Plan Survey. We want to hear from you! Your input is essential in shaping safer streets for Memphis. The City of Memphis is developing a Safety Action Plan aimed at significantly reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries for all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. To ensure the plan reflects the community's needs and concerns, we invite you to participate in a brief survey. Your feedback will help identify key safety issues and guide effective solutions. See more and take the survey here.

Social and Community Engagement:

Laclede Landing Groundbreaking Ceremony. Join us on March 26 at 2pm at 1072 Wellington St for a special tree installation ceremony marking improvements to South Wellington Street and Edith Avenue. This project reflects our commitment to a greener, more vibrant Memphis. Don’t miss this exciting milestone for our community! See more and share here. 

Memphis Redbirds. If you are a fan of baseball, then you do not want to miss this exciting exhibition game before the regular season begins between the Memphis Redbirds and the St. Louis Cardinals. Gates open at 3:00pm on Monday, March 24 and first pitch is at 6:15pm. Check out the gameday schedule and get tickets here. 

City of Memphis Hiring Event. Looking for your next career opportunity? Join us at the City of Memphis Hiring Event on March 29 from 10am – 1pm at Whitehaven Community Center. Meet hiring managers and division representatives, explore job openings, and take advantage of onsite interviews for available positions. Don't miss this chance to step into your future with the City of Memphis! See more and share here. 

Free Community Workshop. The Office of Community Affairs, NExT, and Score will be hosting a FREE community workshop on Saturday, March 22 from 9:30am-11am at 555 Beale Street. Come learn about the process of establishing a nonprofit entity and resources to help you thrive from Alexandria Grant of A. Nicole LLC. Learn more and sign up here. 

Taxpayer Assistance: Need help filing your taxes? AARP and United Way 's IRS-certified volunteers are offering FREE filing assistance at branches across the Memphis Public Libraries system. The service is available to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those age 60 and older. Find a time, date, and location here. 

Stay Connected:

in partnership and progress,

Paul A. Young