Alexis Pugh

Since June 2016, Alexis Pugh has been the director of Memphis Animal Services (MAS), the city of Memphis’ municipal animal shelter and animal control agency. Prior to her appointment to MAS by Mayor Jim Strickland, Alexis served as executive director for first the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County and then Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services (now Spay Memphis), leading both organizations to record-setting service levels. She has continued that record-setting in her role at MAS with her team’s efforts to improve the “save rate,” or percentage of animals who are saved versus euthanized. MAS has not euthanized a healthy, adoptable cat, small dog, or puppy in nearly 6 years. Last year, the shelter saved nearly 90% of the pets in its care. Ten years ago, the save rate was at just 19%. Alexis lives with her two rescue dogs, Wilma and Simba, shelter cat Rock Star, and her husband Wes and 6-year-old daughter Marley.