ST. LOUIS COUNTY–A lawsuit filed on Monday on behalf of a St. Louis County resident, alleged the Department of Public Health knowingly violated Missouri’s Sunshine Law.

What You Need To Know

  • The Animal Protective Association (APA) currently operates the Olivette animal shelter but will relinquish operations to Saint Louis County’s Animal Care and Control program later this month

  • A St Louis County resident filed a lawsuit claiming the county violated the Sunshine Law when it refused to release a transition plan by denying the plan existed 
  • The suit says county denied it existed to hide "shelter-wide euthanasia" being part of the plan

  • Officials are refuting allegations that there was a plan for "shelter-wide euthanasia"

The Animal Protective Association (APA) currently operates the Olivette animal shelter but will relinquish operations to Saint Louis County’s Animal Care and Control program later this month. 

According to the lawsuit filed by Mark Pedroli, his plaintiff requested the “Contingency or Transition Plan” for the Olivette shelter via the Freedom of Information Act in late August 2024.  

Three days later, the department wrote back twice denying a record of a plan existed, “after much research, we have no records responsive to your request,” replied an agent for the County and the director responded, “There is not a responsive record for your request. Sincerely, Kanika Cunningham, MD, MPH,” according to the suit.

“Upon information and belief, the record, known as a Contingency Plan, did indeed exist and was purposefully not provided to Plaintiff because the record was considered highly controversial,” stated Pedroli within the lawsuit. “The Contingency Plan, concealed by St. Louis County, called for a shelter-wide euthanasia.”

Pedroli further alleges the department was motivated to keep the plans quiet to avoid the controversy of shelter-wide euthanasia. The defendants face four counts related to violating the Sunshine Law and a jury trial is demanded in the lawsuit.

During Tuesday’s St. Louis County Council meeting, County Executive Dr. Sam Page refuted the allegations against the county and Public Health Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham.

“Dr. Cunningham has never considered shelter wide euthanasia at the animal shelter as part of taking operations later this month,” said Page.  

Spectrum News reached out to Dr. Cunningham for comment during Wednesday morning but has yet to hear back.

The APA will continue to operate the Olivette shelter through the end of its contract on February 21, 2025. Saint Louis County’s Animal Care and Control program will take over operation on February 22 furthering the opportunities for people to adopt or foster pets from the shelter. A popular program will be returning under new management.

“One thing that I’m excited to announce is that Dr. Cunningham will soon offer details for the volunteer pilot program at the animal shelter,” said Page.