A case that has sparked outrage among animal lovers is heading to court after two former Kansas animal shelter managers pleaded not guilty to allegations surrounding the deaths of three seriously ill puppies.

Andrea Murphy and Monique Hawley, former managers of the Salina Animal Shelter, are facing multiple animal cruelty charges linked to an incident that took place in December 2025.

The case centers on three puppies suffering from parvovirus, a highly contagious and often life-threatening disease that can spread rapidly through animal shelters.

According to prosecutors, the puppies were euthanized using a controversial procedure known as a “heart stick,” in which a euthanasia solution is injected directly into the heart.

Investigators allege the puppies were not sedated or anesthetized before the procedure was carried out. Authorities claim this could have left the animals conscious during their final moments.

The allegations have deeply disturbed animal welfare advocates, who argue that accepted veterinary guidelines recommend animals be unconscious before such a procedure is performed.

Court documents also reportedly raised concerns about euthanasia practices at the shelter, including claims that some procedures may have been carried out by staff who lacked the required certification and that certain medications were administered without direct veterinary authorization.

Murphy and Hawley each face three misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

However, the former shelter managers have denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

City officials have also defended the decision to provide legal assistance to the pair, stating that they were responding to an emergency involving a dangerous disease outbreak and were attempting to protect other animals housed at the shelter.

Supporters of the former managers argue that difficult decisions often have to be made during disease outbreaks, particularly when highly contagious illnesses threaten large numbers of animals.

Still, the case has left many members of the public asking difficult questions about how shelters handle end-of-life decisions and whether existing safeguards are sufficient to ensure humane treatment.

“Those puppies arrived needing care and compassion,” one local animal advocate said. “Now people want answers about what happened during their final hours.”

The emotional case is scheduled to be heard before a jury from September 8 to September 10, 2026, with a pretrial hearing planned for August 28.

As the legal process moves forward, the deaths of the three puppies continue to fuel debate across Kansas, with many hoping the case will bring greater clarity, accountability, and confidence in the standards used to care for vulnerable animals.