"Our staff should not be the subject of your negative comments or social content. They are working hard to help protect our community. This team of dedicated public servants shows up every day to do the hard work of keeping our shelter running.

A distemper outbreak at Memphis Animal Services has shut down the facility until at least Tuesday and led to the euthanasia of nearly 100 dogs with more possible, city officials said.

Memphis Animal Services (MAS) announced Friday afternoon that the city shelter has made the difficult decision to move forward with euthanizing dozens of dogs that were exposed to canine distemper (CDV) after consulting with outside shelter medicine experts.

Mayor Paul Young defended animal shelter staff and said more dogs might have to be put down, as Memphis Animal Services fights a distemper outbreak at the shelter. About 100 shelter dogs were euthanized last week after the shelter says a litter of puppies was brought in that may have exposed animals

MAS said it had to make the "difficult decision" to euthanize dogs exposed to the virus "to prevent the further spread of the disease to healthy animals and our greater community."