Memphis Woman Commits Suicide After Pets Were Taken Away

Memphis Woman Commits Suicide After Pets Were Taken Away

Published: 1/11 6:42 pm

Updated: 3:04 pm

MEMPHIS, TN-- A man said a bad decision by an animal control officer made his wife commit suicide. The officer took away all of the woman’s pets and according to her husband, her will to live.

“I am angry at the city, very angry. There was no reason to do what they did,” said Jay Morgan about his wife Tommie, “they just pushed her over the edge.”

Animal control officers went to the house on a report of loose dogs. When they left, they took all eleven of the family’s cats and dogs.

“They were her babies. They were her life. She treated them like children,” said Morgan.

The question is why did the animal control worker take all of the dogs?

“The dogs were fine. The house reeked but the dogs were fine,” said Morgan.

Tommie Morgan was given a ticket for having a dog at large, no dog license and failing to spay or neuter the animals.

Four days after the animals were removed from the house, Jay Morgan said, “It destroyed her. She killed herself.”

A week later the animal control officer was back at the Morgan house, saying it was a follow up visit. Sources tell abc24.com it was really an attempt to fix botched paperwork. Since Tommy Morgan was dead, the officer charged her husband with a long list of charges including animal cruelty.

“There was nothing wrong with anyone of those dogs,” said Morgan.

Morgan said the officer forged the date on the new charges, which made it look like the new ticket was issued before the wife died.

“She wrote the wrong date on it. She came after my wife passed away,” said Morgan.

Morgan said he can’t get his wife back, but plans to fight and hold the city accountable for her death, “I am not letting them get away with this.”

abc24.com wanted to see the animals for ourselves, but as of Tuesday, no one from city hall granted permission. We also wanted to ask the shelter director what happened, but still no response from city hall on that.

A statement from the mayor’s office said the officer was at the house when she noticed the conditions of the animals and a strong smell of ammonia in the house. It also offers sympathy to the family for the loss of their loved one.