Animal shelters are supposed to be safe havens for abandoned and abused pets. Instead, one shelter in Indiana has been freezing kittens to death.

The American Veterinary Medical Association says that euthanizing animals by freezing is inhumane. Yet, that’s exactly how some cats were killed at the Spencer County Animal Shelter in Indiana.

Arrest and charge the shelter director and all those responsible for this horrible crime.

Shelter employee Bridgett Woodson says the shelter’s director, Christina Payne, told her to put a live kitten inside a plastic bag, then put it in the freezer. Woodson refused to do it. Another time, Payne told her to put a kitten that had been hit by a car in the freezer. Again, Woodson refused to do so and instead took the kitten to a veterinarian to have it humanely euthanized. She complained to the Spencer County Animal Control Board, but nothing was done.

Woodson wasn’t the only shelter staff member told to do such a cruel thing. Once the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office began its investigation, numerous witnesses came forward confirming that cats had been frozen to death. In one case, four live kittens were put in the freezer. One former employee said a Spencer County Animal Control Board member admitted during a meeting that she put a live cat in the freezer when she was the shelter’s director. The attorney for the Animal Control Board issued a statement saying the shelter had changed its policies and procedures “to address those unacceptable actions,” but didn’t elaborate on the changes.

This disturbing case has been turned over to Indiana State Police — yet Payne continues to work at the shelter. The animals at the Spencer County Animal Shelter deserve better than this. We must demand justice and protect other kitchens from suffering such painful and inhumane deaths. Payne and the board member who froze a cat need to be held accountable.

Please sign the petition urging the Spencer County Prosecuting Attorney to fire both of these individuals immediately and charge them with animal cruelty.

Thank you,

Sharanya P. The Care2 Petitions Team

P.S. Just trying to imagine the last few hours of these poor kittens’ life brought me to tears. Will you take a few seconds to ensure these animal abusers never hurt another kitten again? Thank you for your compassion.