ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is hiring a third party to investigate allegations of mismanagement and mistreatment of animals.

This comes after several resignations from the shelter's staff after a group of current and former employees, called CASPCA Concerns, began to demand that CEO Angie Gunter be fired.

The group's letters allege the mistreatment of animals under the care of the CASPCA and Gunter creating a toxic work environment, which she denied.

In response to the board’s plans to hire an independent investigator, CASPCA Concerns said it is glad the board is taking the allegations seriously.

But its members said Gunter should be placed on administrative leave during the investigation.