Kate Murray reacts to animal shelter 'Kill the Kitty' video

Although the kitten is not killed in this video, it does contain some disturbing images.

The Town of Hempstead's animal shelter acting director Pat Horan has been reassigned to a position outside of the shelter, according to Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, pending the outcome of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a video that depicted Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter employees making obscene gestures, and chanting "Kill the kitty," which quickly went viral on YouTube this morning. Murray said that she has taken immediate action on this matter "to ensure that animals at the town’s shelter receive the highest quality of care." The 16-year-old video shows a former private, non-town animal hospital employee handling a kitten, and a Town of Hempstead kennel worker. An off-camera voice is heard giving the direction, "kill the kitty." Horan can be seen in the video. The town will be conducting a search for an animal shelter director immediately. Last December, three animal rescue volunteers filed a lawsuit against the Town of Hempstead, Supervisor Kate Murray and seven other employees after the volunteers were banned from the town’s Wantagh animal shelter — where they had worked for years — for what they say is retaliation for speaking out to shelter employees and town officials about abuse and neglect.