Hope for Hempstead rallies again

Nearly 20 residents attended a rally on April 29 hosted by Hope for Hempstead, a local shelter-reform advocacy group, at the Community Enrichment Mini-Center in Woodmere, where the Woodmere Republican Club was hosting an assembly for animal rights.

Derek Donnelly, director of Hope for Hempstead, said the focus of the protest was to point out the “hypocricy” of the event. Town of Hempstead Republicans, such as Supervisor Kate Murray, who control town hall, haven’t done enough to ensure safe policies and efficient practices in the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, Donnelly said. “You had the Hempstead GOP holding a forum on animal rights, but the same people are using the shelter as a patronage mill, and abusing animals and taxpayers,” Donnelly said. “They are part of the same club, that’s part of the same practice … they were just trying to get the public to think they are doing the right thing.”

In March, the shelter became widely criticized when a 17-year-old video surfaced, showing shelter employees joking about preparing to euthanize a kitten. The town reacted by reassigning Pat Horan, the shelter’s director, and launching an investigation. However, Donnelly said, Hope for Hempstead believes town officials are “incapable” of conducting an investigation themselves. The advocacy group believes a state investigation, instead, is necessary.

“We demand an independent operational and fiscal investigation of the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter,” Donnelly stated in Hope for Hempstead’s release about the rally. “It’s long overdue for our state-elected officials to stand up and do the right thing for our animals and our community.”

In addition to the town’s investigation, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office has been conducting an investigation of the shelter for the past six months. The shelter has an annual budget of more than $7 million.