One Tennessee animal shelter’s battle over an eviction from their facility – and an incorrect news article – has resulted in dozens of phone calls to shelters across the country in localities named “Newport.”
A Tennessee news station, WBIR, posted an article about the Newport Animal Shelter’s Adopt-A-Thon in June, stating the shelter would euthanize all animals that were not adopted by the time of eviction.
Although the news station later issued a correction stating the shelter did not plan to euthanize any animals, the initial “miscommunication” resulted in phone calls to shelters across the country.
A Facebook post has circulated around the Virginia Peninsula and the Southside, alerting residents a “Newport” animal shelter would be closing and euthanizing animals. The original post was shared at least 31 times.
Facebook posts from other shelters in Newport, Ore., Newport, N.C., and Newport Beach, Ca., stated the facilities had also received numerous phone calls about rumored closures.
Amy Burnup, Kennel Coordinator for the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter in Newport News, said she is not aware of any phone calls to the Newport News shelter about any closings or animals being euthanized.
She did confirm that the shelter is “not being evicted, et cetera” from their facility.
A Facebook post from the Tennessee shelter said they are working with other shelters and rescues to find a facility to house the animals.
Another Facebook post from the City of Newport, Tenn. confirmed the animals will not be euthanized.
“We’re going to send the animals to a rescue to get them out of here so they can go to good homes,” Newport Animal Shelter volunter Samuel Payne told WYDaily Thursday afternoon.
A phone call to the Peninsula SPCA on J Clyde Morris Boulevard in Newport News was not answered Thursday because the SPCA was closed.
