Animal Control Advisory Board Meeting Canceled as Shelter Leadership Remains on Leave

The City of Salina’s Animal Control and Appeals Advisory Board will not meet on May 13, 2026.

In a notice sent Wednesday afternoon, the City Clerk’s Office said the meeting was canceled “due to the unavailability of staff to prepare and conduct” the scheduled board meeting.

“The next scheduled meeting of the board would be June 10, 2026,” the notice stated.

The cancellation comes as the city’s animal services operation continues to face disruption following criminal charges filed by the Saline County Attorney’s Office against two shelter officials.

Animal Services Manager Monique Hawley and Operations Superintendent Andrea Murphy, who oversees Animal Services and Aquatics, were each charged with three counts of animal cruelty tied to the December 2025 euthanasia of three puppies at the Salina Animal Shelter. Both have made initial court appearances, and the charges remain pending. A charge is an allegation, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The city has previously confirmed that the employees are on leave. The Salina City Commission also voted 5-0 to provide city-funded legal representation for Hawley and Murphy in connection with the employment-related charges.

The Animal Control and Appeals Advisory Board has been one of the public forums where residents have raised questions about shelter operations, animal control policy, and city oversight. With the May meeting canceled, the next opportunity for the board to meet is currently scheduled for June 10.

The city did not provide additional details in the cancellation notice about which staff members were unavailable or whether the ongoing shelter-related personnel matters contributed directly to the decision.