RICHMOND, Ind. – The board president of a “no kill” animal shelter in Richmond resigned from her position Monday amid several protests and threats after healthy dogs were euthanized last week.
Board members at HELP the Animals Inc. said Susan Beeson, who spent more than 20 years with the shelter, felt her decision was in the best interest of the business.
Thousands of people signed online petitions after learning the dogs were secretly sent off to be euthanized. Leadership at the shelter told employees the dogs were being sent to another rescue. Once the truth was exposed, employees and volunteers were told to stay silent about the dogs’ location.
Since the incident, two other board members resigned and the shelter’s director was fired last Tuesday.
In a message from the board, they stated the remaining members had no prior knowledge of the decision to euthanize the dogs. They said they are reviewing policies to make sure “something like this will never happen again.”
In a statement, the board also said since the incident, they’ve received lots of support from the community.
"We've been heartened by the outpouring of support from the community, including a wave of new volunteer inquires and applications for board membership," the statement said.
HELP board members, employees and volunteers will gather outside of the shelter Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. for Light to Remember, a ceremony to honor the dogs who were euthanized and “those special people and animals who have touched our lives and hearts.”
The public is invited to the gathering.
The entire statement can be read below:
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