03/12/2026
Chicago residents, the CACC Dogs need OUR help! Contact your alderperson and urge them to support a national search for the director position. Don’t know who’s your alderperson? We gotchu!
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/iframe/lookup_ward_and_alderman.html
Yesterday we represented 27 local animal welfare organizations in a press conference and during public comment at the Health & Human Services Committee meeting at City Hall.
We were joined by a breadth of active CACC volunteers, concerned advocates, and the fierce Alderwoman Ruth Cruz and Alderwoman Nicole Lee in asking City Council to stop the appointment of Susan Cappello as Executive Director of CACC and instead turn to a national search for a qualified director.
We were also joined by 700 public comments made by all of you. 675 of those were in favor of the national search.
Despite this incredible effort, the Committee voted to approve the appointment of Ms. Cappello. It was a disappointment, but unfortunately not a surprise.
We have two takeaways from the meeting:
1. We're not done yet. The appointment still needs approval from all of City Council. Email your Alderperson, tell them how you feel. Advocacy is not a spectator sport.
2. The advocacy efforts put forth are not in vain. We heard challenging questions from City Council, including requests for transparency and demands for accountability and rebuilding trust. While some Alders voted "yes" to the appointment it's clear they are also interested in a new era of scrutiny on a department that has been able to run wild for 3 years.
Lastly we want to make it known that OTAT has never been interested in speaking up only when we know we can win. OTAT speaks up when it's the right thing to do. It's been an honor to be joined by so many everyday Chicagoans, local organizations, and caring City Council Members to speak on something so deserving of a voice. Our efforts for more support in budget and more accountability in leadership will not end no matter who is Director.
Thank you Chicago, keep pushing.
Pictured: Eliza, one of our latest rescues from CACC who is now available for adoption at our Bucktown Adoption Center!
