The people of Salina deserve transparency, accountability, and humane treatment of animals in city care.

Despite ongoing criminal animal cruelty cases connected to alleged puppy euthanasia practices at the Salina Animal Shelter, the Salina City Commission voted unanimously on April 13, 2026, to provide taxpayer-funded legal representation for former shelter management.

Many residents have raised serious concerns regarding shelter operations, euthanasia practices, oversight, and the use of public funds. Citizens appeared before the City Commission to express those concerns, and the discussion became so heated that the meeting was temporarily recessed.

We are calling on the Salina City Commission to stop using taxpayer money to fund these legal defenses, provide full transparency regarding its decision-making, ensure accountability where wrongdoing is found, and implement meaningful reforms to protect animals in city care.

Why This Matters

According to public records and public reporting, criminal animal cruelty charges were filed against Monique Hawley and Andrea Murphy in connection with allegations regarding the euthanasia of puppies at the Salina Animal Shelter. These criminal cases remain pending before the courts.

On April 13, 2026, the Salina City Commission entered executive session to discuss whether taxpayer funds should be used to pay legal fees for city employees facing criminal charges related to their employment.

After returning from executive session, the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to provide taxpayer-funded legal representation.

The Commission specifically found that:

• The conduct occurred during the discharge of official duties.

• The employees acted reasonably and in good faith.

• Funding their legal defense would serve a public benefit.

These findings were made before the criminal cases have been resolved.

The Commission relied on Kansas Attorney General Opinion 92-130 when making its decision. Residents deserve to know what evidence, legal analysis, recommendations, and supporting documentation were relied upon in reaching those conclusions.

Questions About Euthanasia Practices

Records obtained by citizens raise additional questions regarding euthanasia practices and oversight at the shelter.

A veterinary care form filed with the Kansas Animal Facility Inspection Program states that euthanasia procedures were to be conducted in accordance with American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.

The same document lists intravenous (IV) injection as the euthanasia method for dogs. Intracardiac (IC) administration is referenced only as a means of confirming death with additional medication if necessary.

The public has not been provided with a clear explanation regarding whether the actions alleged in the pending criminal case were consistent with shelter policies, veterinary guidance, employee training, accepted animal welfare standards, or AVMA euthanasia guidelines.

Citizens deserve answers to important questions:

• Were shelter euthanasia procedures followed as written?

• Were euthanasia events properly documented and reviewed?

• What veterinary oversight existed regarding euthanasia decisions and procedures?

• Were employees properly trained and certified?

• Were accepted veterinary and animal welfare standards followed?

We Therefore Demand That the Salina City Commission:

1. 
   Immediately discontinue taxpayer-funded legal representation for Monique Hawley and Andrea Murphy.
   Publicly release all non-exempt records, legal analyses, memoranda, recommendations, communications, and supporting documents used to justify the April 13, 2026 funding decision.
2. 
   Terminate any city employee found through investigation, administrative review, licensing proceedings, or court findings to have participated in, authorized, concealed, or failed to report animal cruelty or inhumane euthanasia practices.
3. 
   Cooperate fully with all criminal investigations and prosecutions related to alleged animal cruelty at the Salina Animal Shelter.
4. 
   Refer all licensed personnel involved in these matters to the appropriate state licensing and regulatory authorities for review and potential disciplinary action where warranted.
5. 
   Commission an independent third-party investigation of shelter operations, euthanasia procedures, employee conduct, management practices, training standards, and oversight failures.
6. 
   Require written documentation, supervisory review, and accountability measures for every euthanasia performed at the shelter.
7. 
   Require all euthanasia procedures to comply with accepted veterinary and animal welfare standards.
8. 
   Implement mandatory certification, training, continuing education, and competency evaluations for all personnel involved in animal euthanasia.
9. 
   Establish independent oversight of the Salina Animal Shelter, including routine audits and public reporting.
   Publish shelter statistics, euthanasia data, inspection reports, complaints, investigations, corrective actions, and policy updates.
10. 
    Create stronger whistleblower protections for employees who report concerns regarding animal welfare or misconduct.
11. 
    Conduct a public review of shelter euthanasia policies and procedures before future policy changes are adopted.
12. 
    Require any future vote to provide taxpayer-funded legal representation for city employees accused of misconduct to be accompanied by a publicly released written legal justification explaining the basis for that decision.

The citizens of Salina deserve answers. Animals entrusted to the City’s care deserve humane treatment. Taxpayers deserve transparency regarding how and why public funds are being spent.

Sign this petition to demand accountability, transparency, humane animal welfare practices, and meaningful reform at the Salina Animal Shelter.