An Important Message from the HSSA Board of Directors

It has been more than a year since the unfortunate incident involving the transfer of more than 300 hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and mice and the regrettable circumstances that followed. In the midst of the difficulty of the controversy itself, the Board decided to part ways with HSSA’s former CEO, Steve Farley. While the Board believed this decision was necessary, it regrets and sympathizes with the fact that Mr. Farley has experienced significant harassment—even death threats not only to him, but to his family, and the Board does not condone any of this behavior. To set the record straight, the Board does not believe that Mr. Farley had knowledge that any of the small animals were potentially not headed for adoption, or that they would come to any harm. The Board does not believe that Mr. Farley engaged in criminal activity, nor does it believe he intended to cause the small animals harm. Based on the Board’s knowledge of Mr. Farley, he would never have knowingly taken steps to harm an animal – he has always been a strong advocate for animal welfare. We wish him well in his future endeavors.