The actions of a shelter owner in the Rostov region have compromised animal rights activists.

Animal shelters require constant monitoring. The actions of the owner of a shelter in the Rostov region, where numerous animals died, have dealt a blow to the entire animal rights movement, social media users noted, calling for exemplary punishment for the owner of the "Forgotten Hearts" shelter, Tatyana Makarova.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," on December 23, police reported that the owner of an Aksai animal shelter had been detained on suspicion of animal cruelty. After questioning, the woman was released, but then a fire broke out in the shelter building, and the owner was detained again. She has become a suspect in a criminal case involving animal cruelty and death. Investigators questioned volunteers, animal rights activists, and local residents.

A post about the criminal prosecution of the owner of the "Forgotten Hearts" shelter in the Aksaysky District of the Rostov Region had garnered 197 comments by 2:30 p.m. Moscow time on the "Caucasian Knot" Facebook page*, which has 160,000 subscribers.

The case against Makarova has dealt a blow to animal rights activists

Some commenters noted that Makarova had undermined faith in animal rights activists and volunteers.

"The most monstrous thing is that this woman has undermined trust in the entire volunteer animal rights movement. Who will want to donate now, knowing that the food could be lying around "in the barn, and the animals die?" asked Elina Mikutckaya.

"Because of such things, people stop trusting shelters, and helping animals becomes even more difficult," said Olga Vlasenko.

"Because of such stories, people stop trusting real volunteers," agreed Elena Pokhelainen.

"For many "animal rights activists," this is simply a business and a way to make money; there have been and will be many such cases," stated Veronica Karpushkina.

"Many run shelters not for the sake of helping, but for profit; the animals there are like in a concentration camp," pointed out Irina Sultanova.

Alena Alenushka pointed out that the shelter owner "set up" all animal rights activists. "Volunteers, stick together! You can do it!" she wrote.

If shelters were inspected on time, hundreds of animals would be alive.

Several commenters believe that government and volunteer oversight of animal shelters would help avoid such tragedies.

"If shelters were inspected on time, hundreds of animals would be alive," believes Natali Natalia.

"Shelter activities should be under constant supervision by volunteers and animal rights activists," asserts Natalia Damye.

"Foster homes and shelters should be under strict control," noted Oksana Babur.

Commentators called for harsh punishment for the shelter owner

Some users demanded that the shelter owner be made an example of

 "The harshest punishment!" - noted Marina Martirosova, expressing the opinion that the detained shelter owner was "profiting" from animals.

"Let her sell , but she was starving the animals," said Inga Papiashvili.

Let her face trial and a long sentence, let her feel the pain of every ruined life.

Victoria Khrapun expressed hope for a life sentence, otherwise proposing to confiscate property for the benefit of the animals.

"Let her face trial and a long sentence, let her feel the pain of every ruined life," wrote Tatiana Belskaya.

Zinaida Solodyankina suggested Makarova "sentence him to ten years."

Lali Sarishvili urged "punish him very severely and put him in jail for a long time."