# Call for hearing(s) on operational challenges at Chicago Animal Care and Control and impact on public safety operations and implications for animal welfare in Chicago

[Legislation tracker](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/tracker) › [Public Safety](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/public-safety) › [36th Ward: Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36)

- Record number: **R2025-0018690**
- Type: Resolution; category: Committee/Public Hearings
- Status: In Committee (Referred)
- Sponsor: [Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36) (36th Ward)
- Co-sponsors (2): [Timothy R. Knudsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/43) (43rd Ward), [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (44th Ward)
- Committee: [Committee on Public Safety](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/public-safety)
- Submitted Date: Jul 14, 2025
- Introduction Date: Jul 16, 2025
- Official record: [Office of the City Clerk](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=7283B3E4-D460-F011-BEC1-001DD8301D22)

## Impact report

> Written by AI from [the official document](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/5af39776-b9fa-411c-a2b6-9bcc22bdb41b.pdf). AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This resolution asks the City Council's Committee on Public Safety to hold a hearing on problems at Chicago Animal Care and Control and how they affect public safety and animal welfare.

**Who it affects**

- **Residents who report dog bites or dangerous animals**: The hearing would look at why many of their service requests to Chicago Animal Care and Control are going unanswered.
- **Chicago Police Department officers**: The hearing would examine how officers are being pulled into animal-related calls and away from other public safety work.
- **Chicago Animal Care and Control staff and leadership**: They would be invited to testify about understaffing, funding, and the lack of a permanent Executive Director since 2023.
- **Animal rescue organizations and advocates**: They would be invited to testify and offer ideas on how to improve Chicago Animal Care and Control.
- **Volunteers and members of the public**: Their concerns about mistreatment, disease prevention, restricted intake, and poor communication would be part of what the hearing examines.
- **Stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals in the shelter**: The hearing would look at rising euthanasia rates, including more than 3,600 animals euthanized in 2024, often due to overcrowding and limited resources.

**What changes**

- The Committee on Public Safety would hold a hearing on the state of Chicago Animal Care and Control.
- Leaders from Chicago Animal Care and Control would be invited to testify.
- Chicago Police Department representatives would be invited to testify about animal-related calls.
- Animal rescue advocates would be invited to share policy recommendations for improving the agency.

**Where**: 36th Ward

## Timeline

- Jul 16, 2025: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.

## Documents

- [Public Safety Resolution Calling for Hearing on CACC.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/5af39776-b9fa-411c-a2b6-9bcc22bdb41b.pdf) (Legislation)

## Related legislation

**More from Gilbert Villegas**

- [Tribute to late Michael Keller Ditka](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0029456-tribute-late-michael-keller-ditka) (R2026-0029456, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Section 2-44-055 establishing scoring criteria for 9% tax credits](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029453-scoring-criteria-9-tax-credits) (O2026-0029453, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Exemption from physical barrier requirement for commercial driveway alley access for Best West Auto Repair, Inc.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0027919-exemption-physical-barrier-requirement-commercial-driveway) (O2026-0027919, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Passed)

**More on Committee/Public Hearings**

- [Call for hearing(s) on implementation of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Law in Chicago high schools](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028841-call-hearing-implementation-rev-jesse-jackson) (R2026-0028841, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Referred)
- [Call on City of Chicago departments to prioritize heat mitigation, maintain and expand cooling centers, and install heat-resilient…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028725-call-city-chicago-departments-prioritize-heat) (R2026-0028725, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Adopted)
- [Call for hearing(s) on implementation of advanced law enforcement training technology](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028822-call-hearing-implementation-advanced-law-enforcement) (R2026-0028822, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Referred)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2025-0018690-call-hearing-operational-challenges-chicago-animal · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt