Tennessee: Trying to make a name for herself by reducing the "kill rate" at the shelter, Columbia City Councilwoman Debbie Matthews was involved in hoarding dogs along with Diane Gilbertson, who was charged with animal cruelty

TENNESSEE -- Columbia City Councilwoman Debbie Matthews says she's responsible for dropping the euthanasia rate from 80 to 17 percent at the Maury County Animal Shelter.

Matthews rescues dogs on the verge of being put down and tries to find them homes, but finding them homes is not always easy.

Margie, who didn't want us to use her last name, said she used to house dogs that Matthews had pulled from the "urgent lists," or ones about to be put to sleep.

"I kept telling her, you know, no, no more, no more, no more. Come pick these up, and I was basically ignored,” Margie said. “I was being overloaded with dogs ... and still more dogs kept coming.”

Margie said she got so overwhelmed with dogs she could not care for she got out of the rescue business for good.

"And when I got out of it, this other person got put in the same position I had been in," Margie said.

Margie said that other person is Diane Gilbertson. Matthews said Gilbertson transported dogs for her, but denies that she housed any.

The Maury County Sheriff's Office and Animal Control raided Gilbertson's house in September. They seized 17 dogs and four cats that they say were living in deplorable conditions.

“The floor was covered with feces, thick. The urine, so much urine, had soaked through the plywood of the floor, we were afraid we'd fall through the floor joist,” said Randy Bratton with Maury County Animal Control.

Gilbertson is facing animal cruelty charges. She said those animals were pets, but Channel 4 found that that's not true about at least one of them.

Councilwoman Matthews gave Gilbertson a dog she pulled from the shelter on the very same day police raided Gilbertson's house and seized the animals

A receipt from the Maury County Animal Shelter shows Councilwoman Matthews came the very same day of the raid and picked up Lou, a 2-and-half year-old lab mix. Matthews claims Gilbertson was merely transporting Lou to an animal hospital.

Maury County Animal Control officials said they took Lou from inside Gilbertson's home along with the rest of the dogs.

MATTHEWS KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON AT GILBERTSON'S HOUSE

Amanda Bechet, who used to be in business with Matthews, said Matthews has kept dogs at Gilbertson's house before.

"Recently, a year ago in January, she had over seven dogs in Diane Gilbertson's that she brought to the shop,” Bechet said. “I have three witnesses who were there at time it happened, and she physically brought them in there.”

Bechet said Matthews kept rescue dogs in the back of her shop in cages, where they were fed but got very little exercise. Sometimes they lived there for years.

Bechet has since parted ways with Matthews, moving her business to another building.

Gilbertson said she's going to fight the animal cruelty charge. A plea deal would have barred her from having animals for five years.

The animals seized from her house are being held at the Maury County Animal Shelter until the outcome of her case.

Channel 4 reached out to Councilwoman Matthews. She would not make herself available for an on-camera interview.

Matthews lost her bid for re-election on Tuesday.

(WBRC FOX6 News - Nov 11, 2016)

Earlier:

• Tennessee: Diane Gilbertson charged after animals rescued from Columbia home