What can we do? Where can we turn for help?

Contact the local humane society, the ASPCA (RSPCA in the UK), and the APA (Animal Protective Association) if there is one in your area, and see what they can do to help you. They may have suggestions as to who you should contact.

You say it is a "government" run shelter - if it is a city shelter, contact the mayor and/or the city manager.

If it is a county shelter, contact the county executive (they may have a different job name than "executive").

If it is state run, contact the attorney general of the state.

If it is a federal shelter - which I really doubt it is, I've never heard of such a thing, contact your senators and representatives.

Contact the Humane Society of the United States. They are not affiliated with local humane societies but they may be able to help you or at least give you some suggestions as to what you could do and who you could contact.

Find out what local, county, or state department licenses shelters - I'm sure they have operational requirements in order for a shelter to be licensed. It sounds like this person is violating the standards and polices of the shelter, and violating the terms of the operating license and could, possibly, committing a crime which is punishable in the justice system.

You said that you've been told, before this, not to talk about shelter matters - that, in and of itself, may be a violation of law and it is most surely an unethical practice. If you were to be fired because you spoke to someone about the way the shelter runs, you would have a very strong case to bring against them for wrongful termination, and other things a lawyer could probably come up with.

Go to the highest person in the government which licensed the shelter and give them the details.

At almost every level in an government - local, county, state, federal - there are procedures for "whistle blowers" - that is what you would be if you report this problem correctly and to the correct people - you would be blowing the whistle on this incorrect behavior.

Give up on the shelter level, go to the governmental agency that licensed the shelter.

Contact the local humane society, the ASPCA (RSPCA in the UK), and the APA (Animal Protective Association) if there is one in your area.

Contact the Humane Society of the United States. They are not directly affiliated with local human societies. They may be able to help you or perhaps point you in the correct direction to get the problem reported to the correct person who will take action.

If all else fails, take it to the media. If you need anonymity, make that clear right from the start. Most news organizations deal with anonymity quite often and can probably keep your name a secret. Make it a condition of your giving them the details of the problem.

We are in the St. Louis area and there have been a number of stories done, over the years, about abuse at shelters.

I know that the television stations here would love to get a story like this - it has all of the aspects of a juicy story.

- Animals being wrongfully euthanized

- Employees violating shelter procedures and policies

- Employees altering records to cover their misdeeds.

- Managers or supervisors and "higher ups" of the shelter telling employees to not report this, or other problems and threatening you if you do so.

- Great "pictures " to run with the story - cuddly cats and kittens and eager, friendly dogs.

This story, if it can be documented, would be a "dream" story for most local television stations.

One very good card in your "hand" is that the shelter is government run - play that card as well as possible.

Remember, the shelter is supported by tax dollars - the media should love this story.

Good luck

Contact the ASPCA and tell them everything that's going on. Your state might even it's own division, for example Massachusetts has the MSPCA. The Humane Society might be able to help you as well. You've probably seen the Animal Cops on television, they can carry out an investigation. There is also the human police. The ACLU can give you advice about your rights regarding employment and the media. As for the murder of the employee's cat, the owner certainly can take legal action against the facility and the individual who committed the act.

I'm sorry you are in this position but I would contact an Animal Rights Group, several are located on the internet. Explain to them the situation and that you wish to remain anonymous, then give them as much info as possible. Where is the person that was evicted, get there name. That person needs to be stopped and so does the supervisor.

I agree go to the media. Shelters generally don't pay much anyway. I would find another job now and right before you leave to start your new job report the old job. You could also report them anonymously.

look for work elsewhere and speak to the media!