Two Shetland ponies were rescued from running loose Tuesday morning on Jackson Avenue, and Memphis Animal Services was working to make contact with their owner.

MAS was called to the scene at Jackson in the area of Chelsea Avenue. A complainant reported at 6:11 a.m. that Shetland ponies were in the road causing a traffic problem, according to the Memphis Police Department.

"We were able to do a little chasing, and we caught the ponies," said Alexis Pugh, administrator of Memphis Animal Services.

A donkey had already been struck by a vehicle and killed.

MAS made contact with the caregiver of the animals, who was cited with having livestock in the city limits and with a violation for having animals running at large. The owner was apparently out of town. To reclaim the animals, the owner would have to provide an another place for them to live and MAS will do a wellness check up at the property, Pugh said.

The Commercial Appeal photographer Jim Weber contributed to this report.