The appointment of Susan Cappello as the permanent executive director of Chicago Animal Care and Control was advanced by a City Council committee on March 11, despite concerns from some volunteers and animal welfare groups about shelter conditions and euthanasia rates.
Cappello has served as acting director since January 2023 and has worked for the city for over thirty years. Mayor Brandon Johnson selected her last month to lead the agency, which operates Chicago’s only municipal animal shelter and handles tens of thousands of animal-related service requests each year. The full City Council will vote on her appointment at its next meeting on March 18.
Some alderpeople had previously urged Johnson to conduct a national search for the department’s next leader, citing ongoing issues at the shelter. Volunteers and advocates have raised concerns about high euthanasia rates for dogs, including those they believe are adoptable, and called for improvements in shelter conditions. Cappello’s nomination has sparked debate among local animal welfare organizations, with some supporting her leadership during a period of increased intake and budget constraints, while others continue to push for new leadership.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Alderman Nicholas Sposato said, “This is a tough, tough job. I’d just like to ask you to give [Cappello] a chance. … She stayed the course. She did not give up on us. She did not give up on the animals.”
Animal Care and Control has seen a significant rise in animals taken in recently, mirroring trends across the country following the pandemic. Intake numbers increased from 13,419 in 2023 to 18,337 last year. The department’s budget was $7.5 million in 2025 and received an increase of about $660,000 this year to hire more staff; however, it remains lower than similar agencies in other large cities.
On Monday before the committee vote, twenty-seven animal welfare groups signed a letter led by Heather Owen of One Tail at a Time urging Johnson to support a national search for what they described as a “qualified, compassionate” leader. During public comment at Tuesday’s hearing Owen said: “If you have any ounce in you that thinks that perhaps appointing [Cappello] is not the right thing to do, you have to press pause… This is not the right appointment, and you all can stop it.”
Other organizations such as PAWS Chicago and Anti-Cruelty Society voiced support for Cappello during recent press conferences and public comments. Kelley Gandurski, former Animal Care and Control director from 2018-2020 said: “The Animal Control department is being asked to do the impossible: never stop taking animals in, avoid euthanasia and somehow place animals when rescue groups and adopters are already overwhelmed. This is not a management failure. This is a systemic problem.”
Alderman Ruth Cruz questioned Cappello about reports that dogs are only walked once per week at the facility. In response to these concerns after her mayoral appointment last month, Cappello announced an initiative aiming for daily walks for every dog at the shelter—a program currently undergoing trial with hopes of recruiting more volunteers.
Mayor Johnson reaffirmed his support for Cappello earlier Tuesday saying: “Sue’s got the job, as far as I’m concerned,” referencing her experience with both city government and Animal Control.
The final decision now rests with the full City Council.
