County Attorney Explains Why Animal Shelter Cases Were Dismissed, Says Charges Could Be Refiled
Saline County Attorney John Reynolds says the decision to dismiss the animal cruelty cases against former Salina Animal Services managers Monique Hawley and Andrea Murphy was made to preserve the possibility of prosecuting the cases again after another prosecutor could not be secured on short notice.
The cases were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the current prosecutions have ended but charges could potentially be filed again. The dismissals were not findings of guilt or innocence.
Hawley and Murphy each faced three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals stemming from the Dec. 16, 2025 euthanasia of three puppies with parvovirus at the Salina Animal Shelter. Both had pleaded not guilty and were scheduled for separate jury trials in November.
County Attorney’s Office Disqualified
The dismissals followed District Judge Andrea Swisher’s decision to disqualify Reynolds and the entire Saline County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the cases.
After that decision, the county was given a deadline to identify a substitute prosecutor.
Reynolds said multiple attorneys and prosecutors’ offices in and around the area were contacted, but no one was available to take over the cases within the time provided.
The difficulty involved both the short timeline and the amount of work required for a new prosecutor to become familiar with the cases and prepare for several pending pretrial motions.
Attorney shortages affecting prosecutors’ offices across Kansas also complicated the search. A prosecutor taking over the cases would have needed to balance the Salina prosecution against existing cases and staffing demands in their own jurisdiction.
Why the State Dismissed the Cases
The timing also created a significant legal issue.
Defense attorneys had filed a motion seeking dismissal. With the Saline County Attorney’s Office disqualified and no substitute prosecutor available to appear for the State, Reynolds said there was a risk the defense could obtain a dismissal with prejudice.
A dismissal with prejudice would prevent the State from bringing the same case again.
Instead, prosecutors moved to dismiss the cases without prejudice, preserving the possibility of filing charges again at a later date.
The decision was a procedural step intended to keep the State’s options open rather than risk a dismissal that could permanently prevent another prosecution.
What Happens Next?
There is currently no active criminal prosecution against Hawley or Murphy.
Reynolds said the cases will now be reevaluated to determine whether prosecution remains possible. That review will include practical considerations such as whether witnesses remain available as more time passes.
No timetable has been announced for deciding whether charges will be refiled.
If prosecutors ultimately decide to pursue the matter again, the cases would have to move forward through a new prosecution rather than simply continuing toward the November trials previously scheduled.
Cases Had Been Headed to Separate Trials
The charges followed an investigation into the December euthanasia of three parvovirus-positive puppies at the Salina Animal Shelter.
Hawley and Murphy each faced three animal cruelty counts and pleaded not guilty.
The cases were initially expected to be tried together before the court later ordered separate proceedings. Murphy’s trial had been scheduled for Nov. 9-10 and Nov. 12-13, while Hawley’s was scheduled for Nov. 16-19.
Those trials will no longer take place following the dismissals.
City Says Employees Will Not Return to Shelter
The City of Salina has declined to discuss individual personnel matters or the merits of the criminal cases.
City Manager Jacob Wood confirmed that there are no plans to place the employees back at the animal shelter.
The dismissal of the criminal cases does not determine their employment status with the city.
The City Commission previously voted 5-0 to provide city-funded legal representation for Hawley and Murphy in connection with the criminal charges.
The shelter itself is also undergoing a major transition. Commissioners recently voted 5-0 to authorize negotiations with Prairie Paws after the organization submitted the only proposal in response to the city’s request for proposals for operation of the shelter.
For now, the criminal cases against Hawley and Murphy are closed. Because they were dismissed without prejudice, however, prosecutors retain the ability to consider bringing charges again.
