Leaders from three major Chicago animal welfare organizations have voiced their support for Susan Cappello, the acting director of Chicago Animal Care and Control, as the City Council prepares to vote on her permanent appointment.
Cappello has led the city’s animal control department since January 2023 and has worked for the city for over thirty years. Last month, Mayor Brandon Johnson nominated her to become the agency’s permanent executive director. The department operates Chicago’s only municipal animal shelter at 2741 S. Western Ave. and handles tens of thousands of animal-related service requests annually.
The City Council must still approve Cappello’s appointment. In recent weeks, some alderpeople, volunteers, and animal advocates have criticized shelter conditions and euthanasia rates under her leadership. Some volunteers claim that shelter conditions need improvement and that euthanasia rates for dogs remain high, with adoptable animals sometimes being put down. On February 17, a group of alderpeople sent a letter to Mayor Johnson urging him to conduct a national search for the department’s next leader.
In response to these concerns, Cappello defended her record at Animal Control and invited both alderpeople and members of the public to visit the Little Village shelter themselves. “Those who are sitting behind a keyboard, listening to everybody else saying things, making their own opinion based on that, I don’t think that’s fair. You know, if you really want to know … come here and look for yourself,” she said.
At a press conference held Thursday at PAWS Chicago’s Lincoln Park adoption center, representatives from PAWS Chicago, Anti-Cruelty Society, and Tree House Humane Society expressed support for Cappello’s leadership during a period marked by an increase in cats and dogs entering the city shelter.
“I have worked with eight different executive directors [of Animal Control]. While each had different strengths, Susan Cappello is the most collaborative, partnership-forward and always eager to find solutions to work with all of us shelters,” said Paula Fasseas, founder and executive chair of PAWS.
Aldermen Gilbert Villegas (36th) and Ruth Cruz (30th) are among those pushing for a nationwide search before any permanent appointment is made. They circulated a letter signed by fifteen other alderpeople asking Mayor Johnson to begin such a search by April 1.
“We’re asking for the administration to take a pause on this appointment, to listen to the advocates, listen to the aldermen, and do a national search,” Cruz told Block Club. “If after the process we discovered that Susan Cappello is the most qualified candidate then indeed move forward.”
During Cappello’s tenure as acting director, intake numbers at Animal Control have increased significantly—from 13,419 animals in 2023 up to 18,337 last year—while operating within what many describe as an underfunded budget. The department’s budget was about $7.5 million in 2025; it will rise by more than $600,000 this year mainly for additional staff positions but remains insufficient according to welfare groups.
Darlene Duggan of Anti-Cruelty Society credited Cappello with providing needed stability: “Stability at [Animal Control] means stability for the whole ecosystem of animal welfare in the Chicago region,” Duggan said. “She has a long history not just working with the city but working in animal welfare within the city as well.”
PAWS Chicago also announced Thursday it will expand two programs aimed at helping Animal Control manage intake numbers and assist pet owners considering surrendering their animals. These expansions include offering veterinary social work services daily—up from five days per week—and increasing direct support services at Little Village shelter by summer.
“By going from five days to seven not only will we be able to do that for every single person … but [for] everyone,” said Savannah Hinde-Seeley of PAWS’ community outreach team. “So more consistently people [will] know where to find support for their pets.”
Cappello’s nomination must first pass through a City Council committee before going before the full council on March 18.
