Troubled Hempstead shelter gets new chief

After a four-month search and a review of more than 80 applicants, amid allegations and investigations, the Hempstead Town Animal Shelter has selected a new director.

Cynthia Iacopella, 39, of Huntington Station, started the job Tuesday, the town board announced. She previously worked at zoos and animal welfare organizations in California, New York City and Wantagh.

"Since I'd been a little girl, I have always rescued strays," Iacopella said. "I am here to bring a voice to animals."

Town officials and shelter critics welcomed the appointment.

The shelter, which has been criticized by some volunteers in the past year for alleged mistreatment of animals, remains under investigation by the Nassau County district attorney's office for what officials described as issues not involving animal abuse.

Two employees, including the acting director, were transferred to other jobs late last year as a result of the shelter's own investigation. Patricia Horan, who later became the acting shelter director, was reassigned in March after a 17-year-old video of her allegedly joking about a kitten's euthanasia appeared online.

Iacopella said her goals are to reduce euthanasia of animals, improve the trap-neuter-release program and focus on educating people about responsible pet ownership.

"This is the kind of director that we hope will reform the Town of Hempstead animal shelter," said Diane Madden, one of three people banned from the shelter after making claims of animal abuse and neglect. She said she hopes the shelter will now start a volunteer program. Iacopella said she would try to "start a partnership" with the animal advocates.

She will be the assistant director while she completes a bachelor's degree in physical anthropology at the University of California-Santa Barbara. The town requires the shelter's director to have a bachelor's degree. Officials said once Iacopella completes the degree, which she expects to do within a month, they will appoint her director. She already holds two associate's degrees.

Iacopella will be paid $95,000 annually as the assistant director.

Iacopella worked from 2003 to 2006 as the care center director in Staten Island for New York City's Animal Care and Control and previously was the agency's special adoptions and rescue placement coordinator. She worked as director of adoptions and resident care at the nonprofit Bideawee Animal Shelter in Wantagh from 2006 to 2009.