The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is a taxpayer-funded facility responsible for caring for vulnerable animals in our community. Many residents, advocates, volunteers, and rescuers have raised ongoing concerns about transparency, accountability, animal welfare practices, and overall shelter operations. Community members are also requesting a thorough five-year investigation into the shelter’s intake and owner surrender processes, including how animals were evaluated, housed, transferred, adopted, rescued, euthanized, or otherwise dispositioned during that period. This review should examine trends in intake numbers, surrender circumstances, outcome decisions, recordkeeping accuracy, compliance with applicable policies and regulations, and whether animals consistently received appropriate care and placement consideration throughout their time at the shelter.

Community members are calling for an independent audit and investigation into issues including:

• Animal welfare and long-term housing conditions
• Medical care and veterinary oversight
• Transparency surrounding shelter operations and animal outcomes
• Responses to public concerns and records requests
• Rescue transfer and screening practices
• Hiring and leadership oversight
• Treatment of advocates, volunteers, and community members raising concerns
• Oversight and financial transparency involving municipal animal welfare and TNR programs
• Management and use of the Tails of Hope program and related resources
• Intake, owner surrender, and outcome decision-making practices
• Shelter documentation and recordkeeping practices

As a publicly funded municipal shelter, the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter should operate with transparency, accountability, and strong oversight.

We are calling for an independent audit and investigation into the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, including a review of:

• Shelter finances, expenditures, contracts, and use of taxpayer funds
• Medical care, treatment practices, veterinary oversight, and welfare decisions
• Rescue partnerships, transfer practices, and rescue screening procedures
• Hiring practices, qualifications, and administrative oversight
• Compliance with animal welfare regulations and recordkeeping requirements
• Oversight and implementation of TNR and municipal animal welfare programs
• Funding, administration, and use of the Tails of Hope program and related resources
• Accuracy and consistency of shelter records and documentation
• Intake and surrender practices, including animal outcomes, placement decisions, evaluations, transfers, and compliance with applicable policies and regulations

This petition is about transparency, accountability, and restoring public trust in a municipal operation responsible for animal welfare and public resources.

The animals and the community deserve answers and meaningful oversight.

Sign this petition to demand an independent audit and investigation of the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter.