Hundreds Protest Against Town Animal Shelter Practices

Hundreds of concerned residents, rescue workers and their four-legged friends rallied together Saturday afternoon outside the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter to express their outrage with its policies, staff and conditions.

They are demanding several changes from Town Supervisor Kate Murray, including an overhaul of the shelter's leadership, an end to its ban on volunteers and most of all, better services to increase adoptions and prevent killing the animals.

UPDATE: In response to Patch's video report about the protest, a spokeswoman for the Town of Hempstead defended the adoption coordinator and rescue liaison they recently hired. She said despite what protesters have said, the two new hires do have ties to various rescue groups that they have been working with over the past two weeks to boost adoptions. The spokesperson also said that Supervisor Kate Murray recently reached out to one local rescue organization, Last Hope Animal Rescue, and met with its president and board members on Friday.