Acting Chicago Animal Care and Control Executive Director Susan Cappello speaks at a city animal shelter press conference next to Mayor Brandon Johnson on Feb. 25, 2026. [Livestream]

Alderpeople on the City Council Committee on Health and Human Relations on Tuesday advanced the appointment of the mayor’s nomination to lead Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) even as multiple animal care and rescue organizations criticized conditions at the city shelter during the appointee’s tenure as the interim leader.  

But some other animal adoption and care organizations defended acting CACC Executive Director Susan Cappello, who has been with the animal control agency for over two decades and has served as the interim leader of CACC for over three years. Cappello was formally nominated by the mayor last month.