San Antonio's search for a new head of its Animal Care Services department has hit a snag, despite engaging a professional recruiter and conducting nationwide search. After interviewing four final candidates, none were deemed the correct fit for the significant role, leaving the position unfilled and prompting a continued hunt for eligible individuals. According to a letter from City Manager Erik Walsh, which was shared with the mayor and City Council, "I have chosen to continue to recruit candidates for this critical role for our organization."
Tasked with confronting escalating issues such as a rise in dog maulings and a declining animal live-release rate, the city has placed Michael Shannon, currently the city’s Development Services Department Director and with previous experience on ACS's Advisory Board, in temporary command over ACS. The move came as unexpected to some stakeholders who were looking forward to new leadership. "Many of us who were in the interview panels are completely flabbergasted as to why they didn't consider any of those candidates," Lorena Havill told the San Antonio Report, expressing grave concerns about the current crises and the city's response tempo.
The community's anxiety has risen since 2022 over ACS's performance, marked by an uptick in animal euthanasia and a downtick in the intake of animals needing care. In the midst of calls for improvement, a shelter consultant sponsored by the nonprofit Petco Love was brought in, but their efforts were overshadowed by the deaths of a local man caused by aggressive dogs.
These challenges are amplified by a divided public voice, with some residents demanding cleaner streets and others advocating against the euthanizing of more animals. This was echoed by the former ACS director who was quoted saying, “Some residents want animals off the streets and other residents don’t want more animals euthanized,” per the San Antonio Report. The former director, who stepped down earlier this year, left the agency in transition and highlighted the need for future leadership to navigate these complex, opposing demands.
Despite the difficulties, the director position attracted numerous applicants, signaling a robust interest in the leadership role at ACS. Yet stakeholders like Havill have voiced frustrations about the opacity in the selection process. Walsh, in an interview last month, stressed his top priorities for a new director – rebuilding community relationships, possessing strong leadership skills, and making tangible advances in the department's public safety mandate.
