Groups Mark National Night Out Against Crime

Here are some of the pictures from the walk that started at Media Play and ended at the Hickory Hollow Mall.

Photos by Mindy Schwartz

Owners can no longer afford pets, shelter faces overcrowding

Reported on WKRN News (Channel 2) Pets are the latest victims of the struggling economy. The Metro Animal Shelter is reporting a jump in the number of surrendered or abandoned animals, as fewer people can afford them. Typically, most of the animals that come into the shelter are picked up by animal control. Recently, however, shelter officials said they have seen more animals coming through their front doors dropped off by people who just can't afford to keep them anymore. Director Jude Ladebauche, Metro Animal Control, said, "They aren't animals we're picking up in the field they're animals that people are surrendering to us for one reason or another and it's heartbreaking." Dogs like Harley and Rocky are newcomers to the shelter and face greater odds. Harley is five-years-old, not as popular an age for adoption as some of the puppies. Ladebauche said because the shelter is so full, it can only support the dogs and cats for one to two weeks, maximum, before they have to make room for new ones. She said, "It's extremely difficult to know so many of them really won't ever find a second home." Still, shelter officials encourage those who can no longer afford their pets to bring them in so they have a chance to find a new owner. The shelter has taken in almost 12,000 animals this year, 1,500 of which last month. Ladebauche said she expects to break a record this year for the number of animals coming into the Metro Animal Shelter.

Curby steps out on the town

By BONNA JOHNSON • Staff Writer • May 12, 2008 Metro’s green recycling cart, Curby, is showing up all over town at major events to encourage people to recycle their aluminum cans, paper and plastic items. Attendees at the CMA Summer Music Festival in June, the city’s Fourth of July celebration downtown and the Bluebird on the Mountain summer concert series at Dyer Observatory can pitch their recyclables into the carts, said Veronica Frazier of Metro Beautification and Environment. “Special events generate a large number of plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other items that can easily be recycled instead of thrown into the trash, so we’re eager to form partnerships with event planners and organizers to provide recycling at their venues,” Frazier said. Some 30 Curby carts were set out at the Iroquois Steeplechase last Saturday to collect recyclables.