STL County Health Director says she never called for mass euthanasia at animal shelter

OLIVETTE, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A lawsuit filed this week claims that as St. Louis County prepares to take back control of its animal shelter, a contingency plan calls for “shelter-wide euthanasia.”

“I just want to be clear, that was not my plan,” said St. Louis County Health Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham.

Cunningham made it clear she never planned mass euthanasia of animals as the county prepares to retake control of shelter operations from the Animal Protective Association.

“It’s unethical,” said Cunningham.

The lawsuit alleges the county violated Missouri’s Sunshine Law. An amended petition obtained by First Alert 4 claims the county holds a document called “The Contingency Plan” and that the plan “called for shelter-wide euthanasia.”

The lawsuit also states that when a citizen requested the plan under Missouri’s Sunshine Law, Cunningham responded, “There is not a responsive record for your request.”

Cunningham said a plan was developed to address overpopulation and manage intake, but it focused on foster care and adoption programs. However, she acknowledged that staff had discussed mass euthanasia at some point.

“There was some discussion around team members but as far as when it came up to me, that is nothing I stand for,” she said.

Cunningham also said that under a previous health director the shelter did over-euthanize animals, citing a 2019 audit.

“I think for some reason, some people probably think oh maybe that’s what we’re ready to do again, that’s completely not true, but it did exist before,” said Cunningham.

First Alert 4 obtained the 2019 audit, which showed that in 2018, St. Louis County Animal Care and Control euthanized 25% of the dogs and cats it took in. That was the third-highest rate among eight animal shelters in the metro area.

In a statement, Mark Pedroli, an attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that county residents are entitled to full and immediate transparency.

“St. Louis County cannot deny the existence of a months-old government record that calls for a shelter-wide euthanasia,” said Pedroli.

St. Louis County is set to take back the animal shelter next Friday from the APA. Officials said that despite past issues, a new regime will bring positive change.

“Hopefully we will see, we care about the animals,” said Cunningham.

Cunningham added that the county will soon announce a pilot program for people to volunteer at the shelter.

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