ST. LOUIS • A former employee of Stray Rescue has filed a lawsuit against the animal rescue organization and its leaders, alleging racial discrimination.

The suit also claims employees of the nonprofit organization were allowed to use and deal drugs and sexually harass others without punishment.

Gary Gray filed the lawsuit Thursday in St. Louis Circuit Court against Stray Rescue, founder Randy Grim and executive director Cassady Caldwell.

The suit says Gray was denied a position specializing in feral dogs as well as a position as a lead caregiver, but Grim and Caldwell promoted three white women who had less experience than him to lead caregiver in June 2015. Gray is black. Grim and Caldwell are white.

Caldwell could not immediately be reached, and Grim was not available Tuesday, according to Weng Horak, the organization’s chief financial officer.

“We got notice from our attorney about the lawsuit, but we have not received the lawsuit,” Horak said. “We have no comment on this at this time, other than we deny any improper conduct and we will vigorously defend Stray Rescue against these allegations.”