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Hempstead Town Animal Shelter Director Reassigned

Pat Horan was removed from her position following a ‘disturbing’ video that was posted on YouTube.

The Town of Hemsptead Animal Shelter director seen on a YouTube video that surfaced recently depicting employees making obscene gestures, handling a kitten and saying “kill the kitty,” has been reassigned.

Supervisor Kate Murray stated that she has taken “immediate action” on this matter. 

Pat Horan, the shelter’s acting director has been reassigned to the Department of General Services. According to a town spokesperson, Horan is currently earning $92,491 in her position.

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.

(Editor's Note: The material in this video may be offensive.)

Andrew Coen contributed to this article.

Danielle March 18, 2011 at 04:11 pm
Neutering reduces colonies, treatment reduces the spread of disease, release often includes relocation to prevent colonies.
Proper training of staff will increase productivity. Volunteers help increase not decrease productivity. volunteers can trap, treat, neuter release and relocate. There are solutions and responible changes that can be made. Making excuses and justifying is the problem not the solution.
Danielle March 18, 2011 at 05:00 pm
flip, I did not state that pole usage is not the procedure at tohas. I really can't control what you mis-read or misinterpet. Do some investigating of your own and get back to us all.
flip March 18, 2011 at 06:48 pm
I read your statement that the behavior on the video was not . . . pole usage was part of the behavior everyone has been talking about
If you only meant their clowning around antics . . . yes, that isn't professional. But it also isn't criminal. And I doubt that in any union shop it is grounds for dismissal.
flip March 18, 2011 at 06:52 pm
also - I gave you my research findings: just about every show I have watched it is used.
You have the oposition viewpoint. I don't need to change your mind. I have no interest in doing so. I doubt it could happen anyway. I'd like to hear something factual not just people making statements about what the believe doesn't take place at other locations.
flip March 18, 2011 at 07:00 pm
Maybe you didn't actually say those words, but, as a pid employee just about everything I have read here has been talking about volunteers getting involved as the solution or part of it, or the only way. I can see where non govenment agencies would want to rely on volunteers. With all the tax money being spent at this location there should be a crackerjack team of employees who were top notch in this field. They should be capable of handling the job without volunteers. Now if posters said the town needed a volunteer oversite committe, I would be all for that. If posters said a community run shelter, staffed by community members (a people's organization) was a better way, and apropriate financing was suggested and deeloped, I would be all for that too. If all the volunteers started such an organization, and actually took over the workload, I would back it as well.
flip March 18, 2011 at 07:10 pm
"trap, treat, neuter release and relocate" only spreads the issues that I mentioned. None of those items addresses the destruction to property and feces issues. Keep your cat colonies where they are. I don't want it anywhere near where I am. If there was one I would take action to eliminate it (and I wouldn't relocate it so it becomes someone else's problem - that is a horrible thing to do).
Years ago I read a book on cats of all sizes shapes and types, from lions to house cats. In it I learned that one of the first things relocated feral cat colonies do is kill all of the other outdoor cats in that area. Feral cats only allow their own offspring to exist. I am not justifying anything. I am just stating that the rhetoric being posted here isn't looking at this issue any way other than emotionally. Few posters are looking into the questions that surround this circumstance
Arthur Ametrano March 18, 2011 at 10:04 pm
The DA is Kathlenn Rice
262 Old Country Rd. Mineola, N.Y. 11501 Tel.# 516-571-3800
Arthur Ametrano March 18, 2011 at 10:09 pm
It's my contention that what they're doing in transferring her to another facility away from animals and getting the same pay, I think it's unacceptable and this is how they punish their workers? I think it's a slap in the face to all the wonderful people out there who do their very best in caring for these animals at the shelters. My cousin is one of them he is a volunteer affiliated with Babylon Town Animal Shelter.
Hollingsworth March 18, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Are you saying that our tax dollars are going to pay Pat Horan over $100,00 for only working 3 hours a day, 3 days a week; and that our tax dollars are giving her a van to use for her own personal use; that she supervised a shelter where she and the employees she supervised don't like animals; and that she made crude remarks and allowed employees to treat its animals in an inhumane manner; and yet she is still making that same salary in another department. In response to someone else's remarks regarding her employment, she is appointed at the pleasure of Supervisor Murray and is not a union employee. That is the way they do business in the Town of Hempstead. Do something illegal and bury them in some department that does not deal with the public. I think the real question is: How many people are making more than $100,000 in the General Services Department??? Come to think of it, whatever happend to Iannucci (the guy who buried someone in the wrong grave)? Or Zerfonte - the investigator who falsified documents? Or Liefer or whatever his name is -- the building supervisor who rebuilt his house without permits - living down the block from Kate Murray? The Town has been operating without checks and balances for too long. We can't afford their inflated budgets!!!
Hollingsworth March 19, 2011 at 03:34 am
That's because the Investigator that you reported to in the Town Attorney's office is now in jail. Zafonte was arrested for making up claims against people he didn't like. I'm sure that he buried all claims against Town employees. When they first found out what Zafonte was doing, Kate Murray reassigned him to a non-investigatory job until he was sentenced. Corruption is rampant in the Town of Hempstead. It sounds like the priesthood. Someone gets accused of a crime and they relocate them somewhere else, deny any wrong doing and then cover up. The Town has been run by the GOP for so long, they don't even realize they're corrupt. It's just businness as usual. Well, I say that 110 years is enough!
flip March 19, 2011 at 03:54 am
That's a town worker for you
I thought stuff like that ended years ago you should call the press, call the news stations they should get it on film and air it I have seen them do it before Maybe they will take action on Horan
flip March 19, 2011 at 03:56 am
I believe that every twon worker is in the union, even if they are appointed. They still join it. I believe they might even be required to.
flip March 19, 2011 at 03:58 am
Both parties are coorrupt
That isn't to say that people need to be voted out
flip March 19, 2011 at 04:00 am
Arthur
You should have turned your logs and information over to the press, not just the town
Bob Rabey March 19, 2011 at 07:14 am
While the majority agrees that the Town of Hempstead and Kate Murray have had their way for far too long, why is it they keep getting back in office? People are becoming more aware of what these "elected officials" are doing, or not doing in our names. Yet every election, the same old same is right there, assuming office again!
When exactly will "we the people" have had enough?
Scott Clarke March 19, 2011 at 08:35 pm
You all have been swindled for DECADES. $100k cops, teachers...and animal shelter workers???? Now factor in the pensions and cadillac healthcare plans they have and it adds up to closer to $200k. Wonder why your property taxes are $13k, 15k, 20k.?You think it's going to stop there? Everyone is gaming the system, from elected officials to municpal workers to school boards. The rest of you poor folk are stuck with the bill. I'd say invets in "house for sale" signs. They will be selling like hotcakes (the signs, that is; NOT the houses)
Robert Demarco March 19, 2011 at 10:54 pm
With all the heat on Murray, the Republicans will do what they usually do with Hempstead supervisors. They resign in the middle of their term and another good party stalwart is appointed, so that he or she can run as an incumbent in the next election. They have used this maneuver several times.
anthony March 20, 2011 at 01:42 am
Just another example of Kate Murray grandstanding.. Nice political posturing Kate. But where was the intervention here where is the policing of this agency? You have your "watchdogs" where were they? Yet another waste of the taxpayers dollars. So now I'll wait for your nest speech to reach into my pocket and hand over my hard earned money to support a tragic situation. How about you reach into your own pocket( not the taxpayers) and put your easy earned cash into the kitty!
anthony March 20, 2011 at 01:50 am
I think I'll run for office... I'll take half the kickbacks turn my head half of the time relocate bad employees half the time and everyone will think I'm doing twice the job!! Nice strategy right?
marvin March 21, 2011 at 08:14 pm
You forgot Sanitation workers - done by 1:00 - I even know one who retired after putting in his 20 years (during all of which he held a second job) and then returned to work in the same department in a different position to start another 20 years. I would bet by now he retired a second time and has two pensions coming in.
marvin March 21, 2011 at 08:16 pm
And hold a second, or even third, job the whole time. Maybe be like that sanition worker I posted about earlier that I knew that was working on his second town pension.
Arthur Ametrano March 27, 2011 at 11:47 pm
What seems to be strange about this case after all is said and done, and she was to be transferred to another facility. She hasn't gone back to work in over 2 weeks. I haven't seen her leave in the morning to go to work like she normally used to do. Perhaps there is more to it or she had vacation time coming to her. I can tell you somebody like that who's coming to my facility to work I don't think I'd like the idea after all the bad publicity. It tends to make matters worse for the people that are already working there ,whereby everybody's gonna be scrutinized because of this. And by the way she is my neighbor which I hope her and a girlfriend move out in time. I don't think anybody would want them as neighbors they're not very nice people. They lived next door to me since 2000 and all I had is nothing but aggravation with them because they are very vindictive and treacherous people, making problems for others.
Pamela McGrath Solomon April 11, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Why wasn't she fired altogether? I'm a nurse and if I had acted with such wanton cruelty, I'd have been fired on the spot. That she continues to work on my dollar and reap benefits which I don't get is absurd and ridiculous.
larry May 8, 2011 at 01:23 pm
She didnt leave the room,she slid over for the cameraperson to get a clearer shot.The gal in uniform and goofy guys making faces,obviosly enjoying killing animals a bit too much to work in an animal shelter,the lady sliding over making the juvenile v gesture over her head got promoted instead of fired-whats this all say? 7 million dollar budget to run 1 facility. 125g a week?any buisness person could save 40g a week here(2 mill a year)-what has patronage jobs come to in Nassau..its come to the point its killing us all and we cant afford to live in Nassau County anymore,,If all the patronage money and patronage jobs were reviewed,its easily conceivable we would close the budget gap in Nassau..Imagine how much would we save at each agency? if the politicians werent giving theyre lawyer friends frivilous lawsuits like Mangano gave Rifkin Radler to fight NIFA-if the patronage jobs were pulled back we would have hundreds of millions.If we would look inside agenices like these,or the near bankrupt OTB-where many republicans get100-$198,000 jobs for no other reason then theyre high in the republican party food chain.Its abuse!The proof is right here,even w/damning video like this-concerned enraged constituents can get stonewalled by the very politicians we elect.The system allows politicians to run Nassau,control billions and they waste many millions, its so disheartening we cant even remove an Animal shelter director from a 100g job after shes caught on video abusing her position.
larry May 8, 2011 at 01:25 pm
the only thing worse then a republican,,is a democrat!they all play the same game but the dems raise taxes more..same patronage bull and waste as we taxpayers suffer.sad state of affairs we are in.
Robert Demarco May 9, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Larry's comment is right on. Patronage has drained our economy in Nassau County, and in the Town of hempstead for decades. these people all take care of each other and their friends and benefactors. The politically connected lawyers get all plums that the courts dole out, and government legal business is thrown their way. Regardless of who is in power, this cycle continues.
larry May 9, 2011 at 07:30 pm
its a shame-, the hempstead shelter could run on 40g less a week,,thats 2 mill a year,140g a week to run this shelter?,are we nuts?no wonder u see a video w/3 employees goofing off.so much time to screw around..and abuse animals,this is just one agency,there are so many,maybe 20- 50-and that adds up swiftly..a review of town and county (and agencies) lawsuits and attorneys they pay,would be an interesting audit.we constituents are victims.the patronage jobs roll back and forth from republicans to democrats.See the otb,you'd see instantly its a bunch of guys padding theyre pensions so they retire w/fat checks,as soon as republicans won the county supervisor election,regardless of good job or bad,out w/dems in w/republicans after lawsuits which we paid for,As politicians say-"to the victor goes the spoils",like we are pawns in theyre game!whos driver now gets the job,and whos former fund raiser..whos buddy..theres 2-3 million there with 7 guys at 125-200,000 annual salaries,doin very little work,and its endless..Nifa was undressing them,exposing the 500g paid out to Rifkin Radler..and if they didnt say uncle, they would have been exposed as corrupt/wasteful,which they are.Its politics at its best!LOL!everybody looked the other way when times were good,,but now we are elimnating our childrens school programs or paying more r.e. taxes then we can afford..people are moving away...as we pad politicians pensions and carry bloated payroll at county departments,,,enough is enough.
Joann June 1, 2011 at 05:36 am
Here is the latest TOHAS victim.Please watch and share:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-WginPR56w&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL There will be a candlelight vigil this Friday June 3rd at 8pm at TOHAS in honor of "Ilsa" and all of the unnecessary senseless deaths.Please come and show your support!
Russ June 12, 2011 at 02:57 am
Main problem is no agency in Nassau oversees proper animal cruelty investigations. Police only refer it to the SPCA who does nothing. This results in numerous animals dying from abuse each year. The spca was taken to court two times by volunteers due to improper management, not investigating cruelty, and donations disappearing. The last time they had their guns taken away from them. Nassau County still gave them a $ 100,000 donation recently. The Police have been sued in 2004 to force them to handle cruelty but the county has been still fighting this in state court.
Lisa December 13, 2012 at 08:33 pm
I meet this women through a friend and she is a contributor of buying illegal marijuana besides bragging about hang out with Kate Murray fund raisers and making donation to Kate for her job. Look at her check book and check her for drugs.

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