MOUNT VERNON — There have been rumors that all cats at the Knox County Humane Society Cat Shelter would be euthanized after the beginning of the year. These fears seemed to be rooted in the fact that a new board of directors with three new members would not be sympathetic to the so-called no kill policy in place at the shelter. The policy was that no healthy cat would be euthanized to make room to accept more cats.

These fears were rendered moot when it was announced all the cats in the shelter had been placed, through adoptions, placement in foster homes or given to feline rescue programs in other cities.

This was announced by volunteer Toni Kindel in an e-mail to the News and confirmed by board member Robert Bennett. Bennett also said there were two emergency board meetings over the holiday weekend; one on Friday and one on Sunday.

“I didn’t hear about the first meeting until it was almost over,” Bennett said.

He said he was unable to attend the second meeting for personal reasons.

In Kindel’s e-mail to the News, she also said the staff at the cat shelter was being laid off and the spay/neuter program was being eliminated.

Board president David Guffey had told the News that a statement would be forthcoming after he met with the board early this week.

As of press time Guffey could not be reached to confirm the layoffs, the elimination of the spay/neuter program, or what the aims and goals of the cat shelter would be for the coming year.