LEWISBURG, Tenn. -
The euthanization of 13 dogs from the Lewisburg Animal Shelter on Wednesday has caused an outrage.
According to Lewisburg City Manager Tommy Engram, the shelter was overcrowded and was forced to put down the animals.
Engram told Nashville's News 2 the shelter had exceeded its capacity with 28 dogs.
"When we get over 20 animals in that shelter we're going to have to do something and the city of Lewisburg is going to follow the law," Engram said.
However, nine of the 13 dogs euthanized on Wednesday were to be fostered for adoption by Suzanne Ganser.
The dogs were euthanized before Ganser had a chance to pick them up.
"I called him and I said just wanted to let you know I'll be there at 3:30 and I left that on his machine and then I got a call back at 1:30 from the animal control officers saying don't bother," Ganser told Nashville's News 2.
For the past year, Ganser had fostered dogs from the shelter and never had a problem.
"They've [Lewisburg Animal Shelter] been very helpful and a lot of times like I've said I'm not there for a specific dog, I'm there for the one that's been there the longest or the one that's most in need."
City officials said the shelter is not an adoption center, and handles dogs from all of Marshall County.
