Town of Hempstead Notebook: Fallout From the 'Disturbing' Animal Shelter Video

The 'Kill the Kitty' Video

On Monday, a nearly 20-year old video was posted on YouTube that depicts Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter employees making obscene gestures, handling a kitten and saying "kill the kitty."

It has been alleged that the voice saying "kill the kitty" on the video was Acting Shelter Director Pat Horan, but a town interview with Horan has been met with an emphatic denial that her voice was on the video.

The Animal Shelter has been plagued by a lawsuit involving alleged abuse and recently underwent changes to improve pet care.

The lawsuit was filed last year by three former volunteer animal rescue workers and states that they were banned from the shelter after “speaking out to shelter employees and town officials about the cruel and inhumane instances of animal abuse and neglect they observed at the shelter.”

The Town's Response to the Video

Within hours of the release of the video Town Supervisor Kate Murray reassigned Horan to the Department of General Services. According to a town spokesperson, Horan currently earns $92,491 in her position.

Hempstead Town Press Secretary Susan Trenkle-Pokalsky called the video “disturbing” and the comments on it “ugly and unacceptable.”

“The town finds the actions contained in the video offensive and is investigating the circumstances surrounding the video,” she said.

Additionally, town officials say it will be conducting a search for an animal shelter director immediately.

Horan was also under scrutiny earlier this year when a media outlet reported she had registered to vote in Nassau County, even though records state she resides in Suffolk County.

A Peaceful Protest

Town of Hempstead residents held a protest across the street from the animal shelter yesterday afternoon. Patch will have a full report on the protest up soon.

Town Board to Meet Tuesday

The Hempstead Town Board has a meeting scheduled for March 8 at 10:30 a.m.