The town of Hempstead Shelter operates on a $7.1 million dollar budget. The shelter has 29 full time employees at its animal shelter. NINE of them made over $100,000 last year. The shelter has hired two part-time veterinarians at a cost of close to $250,000 annually and are seeking a third to perform spay & neuter services (the average salary for a veterinarian in the state of NY is $60,000). Despite these extraordinary expenditures, services to the public and to the animals have decreased or are non-existent. Rescues have been banned, eliminating the major means of networking and adoption for shelter animals. The public and rescue's right to place “Do-Not-Destroy” labels on animals has been revoked. Trap/Neuter/ Release services have been decreased. Phone inquiries regarding adoption are not accepted. Volunteers are not admitted. The Shelter's Director Pat Horan, (who earns more than $100,000/year) has been moved to another position within the municipality following the emergence of a video showing her participating in or observing blatant animal cruelty. Horan has been replaced as acting director by Town Attorney, Susan Jacobs (who has no Shelter management experience). The shelter is the subject of several lawsuits, one filed by ousted volunteers, and another by a long term employee who describes a hostile work environment fueled by political patronage. We the undersigned demand a thorough review of; shelter operations (including intake, adoption and euthanasia records), financial accountability and expenditures as compared with those of similar size and intake, qualifications of all those on shelter payroll. In addition, the immediate admission of rescues and volunteers and the removal of the shelter from the auspices of Kate Murray, Town Supervisor, who has repeatedly failed to act in the best interest of the shelter animals or the taxpayers.

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