Chicago Animal Care and Control

Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) is a department of the city of Chicago. It operates the municipal animal shelter, David R. Lee Animal Care Center, located in the Lower West Side. It is an open-admission shelter.

In 2016 it had 62 employees.

History

The department was created in 1973.: 658  The current building opened in 1980.

In 2013 the city Office of the Inspector General audited the shelter and stated that it did not have enough people employed to have adequate operations, and it did not perform veterinary examinations that should have been taken.

In 2016, Fran Spielman of the Chicago Sun Times wrote that the agency, which had chronic leadership change, was "chronically-troubled". That year, after several dogs died in the shelter's care, Don Levin, the chairperson of the board of the Chicago Wolves and a donor to the department, asked for a "culture change".

In 2016 Susan Russell became the executive director. Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel dismissed her from her position in 2018.

Kelley Gandurski became the acting executive director in 2018.

In 2019 the facility's medical unit was renovated. The cost was $1,500,000.

As of 2026 Susan Cappello is the acting director.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Spielman, Fran (2016-08-09). "Death of dog at city pound fuels demand for 'culture change'". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  2. ↑ Parmer, Dan G. (1987-09-15). "Animal Care and Control Center: A multifaceted veterinary challenge". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association: 658–659. - The author worked for the organization.
  3. 1 2 Ruppenthal, Alex (2019-10-21). "City Animal Shelter Completes $1.5 Million Medical Unit Renovation". WTTW. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  4. ↑ "Audit: City's animal shelter understaffed, failing to meet standards". Chicago Tribune. 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  5. ↑ "Mayor Emanuel Names Susan Russell to Serve as Executive Director of the Commission on Animal Care and Control". City of Chicago. 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  6. ↑ Weinberg, Tessa (2018-07-02). "City's Animal Care and Control executive director asked to resign, replacement named". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  7. ↑ Malagon, Elvia (2018-09-24). "Chicago Animal Care and Control disputes claims it is euthanizing more dogs under new director". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  8. ↑ Wu, Jerry (2026-03-10). "Nominee to lead Chicago animal control draws critics and defenders ahead of confirmation vote". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2026-11-06.