After serving as executive director for the Commission on Animal Care and Control for just over two years, Susan Russell was fired by Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday.
“I was provided no explanation,” Russell said.
In a meeting at the mayor’s office with Emanuel’s chief of staff Joe Deal at about 6 p.m. Friday, Russell said she was asked to resign.
“They asked me to resign and I did not wish to resign, and from there it was a termination,” Russell said. “I said, ‘Why? What is the explanation for this?’ And I received none.”
Russell said the decision was unexpected.
“It’s surprising,” she said. “We’ve been going gangbusters for the last two years, really trying to get second chances for the animals that would come into our care.”
A temporary replacement for Russell was announced in an emailed statement late Saturday afternoon by the mayor’s office. The statement did not give an explanation for the firing.
Kelley Gandurski was named acting executive director for the Commission on Animal Care and Control, effective immediately, the statement said. Gandurski will serve until a permanent executive director is named.
Gandurski previously served as CACC’s deputy director and general counsel. Prior to that, she worked for the city’s Law Department, where she was a supervising senior counsel in the Legal Information and Prosecutions Division, supervising the city’s misdemeanor branch court cases and administrative review matters. She also worked closely with prosecutions, defense of prosecutions, and drafting and reviewing ordinances for CACC. She has volunteered her time at various animal rescue groups, fostering dogs and assisting in fundraising activities.
Gandurski earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s College and her juris doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. She lives in the West Loop neighborhood.
“I’m proud to announce Kelley Gandurski will serve as the Acting Director of Animal Care & Control, and I know she will ensure both of those critical missions are fulfilled while ensuring the department’s operations are uninterrupted,’’ said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the statement. “I want to thank Ms. Russell for her service to Chicago.”
In March of 2012, Emanuel fired Cherie Travis from her post as executive director of CACC, with no explanation.
Several months after Travis’ ouster, the Illinois attorney general’s office sued her, to compel her to explain why the nonprofit animal rescue group she heads made $70,000 in payments to her mother and to a close friend.
Travis founded the People and Animals in Community Together Humane Society in 2000 to provide care and adoption for unwanted and abused pets. Travis’ mother, Judith Mason, was listed as a treasurer and director.
The attorney general’s office opened an investigation after current and former volunteers began writing to the agency to complain about a perceived lack of financial transparency by Travis, according to copies of the letters obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
Cynthia Bathurst, executive director of Safe Humane Chicago, a nonprofit that advocates for animals, confirmed in an email that Russell was terminated as of Friday.
Bathurst served on the advisory group that conducted a national search for the executive director position and made recommendations to Emanuel in 2016 when Russell was interviewed for the job.
Abby Smith, executive director of the no-kill shelter Felines & Canines, also served on the advisory group and said in an email Saturday that she was “shocked” by Russell’s firing.
“Susan Russell was the best choice for the Commissioner of CACC and I have no idea why they would fire her after all of the progress she has made,” Smith wrote. “The Chicagoland Animal Welfare Community is outraged and will want answers. Felines & Canines has fully supported her efforts and is anxiously awaiting the city’s plan.”
A Facebook event was created Saturday in support of Russell, calling for people to gather for a peaceful protest at CACC, 2741 S. Western Ave., at 7:30 pm. Tuesday.
“Susan Russell was removed as Director of Chicago Animal Care & Control with no reason given. Susan has been the best Director CACC has ever seen and leaves the shelter with the lowest euthanasia rates ever,” the event description read.
People shared their frustration with Russell’s firing on the event page, which had more than 15 organizations listed as co-hosts of the protest calling upon the mayor’s office to “care about its animals and hire a competent, progressive, experienced Director.”
“So totally wrong. Susan’s been one of THE best things that has happened to CACC. So wrong,” wrote Facebook user Anita Mettille on the event’s page.
Russell said she won’t be attending Tuesday’s gathering because she will be out of the country on a pre-planned vacation. But she said the support she has received has been “incredible.”
“I’m really proud of everyone for their incredible activism on behalf of the animals,” Russell said. “I’ll be watching and cheering them on.”
As of Saturday afternoon, Russell was still listed as the executive director of CACC on the city’s website and on her LinkedIn profile.
In her role as executive director, Russell oversaw the city’s open-admission animal shelter in addition to the city’s response to animal-related service requests, and public health and safety issues.
Russell said that while the work these past two years has been nonstop, she loved every minute of it.
“Working in an open-admissions shelter and seeing the suffering every day coming through the door, you have to be tough and you have to be compassionate. Those moments I will cherish because I loved being there,” Russell said.
Frustrations arose when people were critical of the shelter’s mission, from a lack of resources and when politics got in the way, Russell said.
“It’s my sincere hope that the city’s going to focus on what needs to be done and not get distracted by shiny objects that have nothing to do with saving lives,” Russell said.
Before being selected as CACC’s executive director, Russell worked as a lawyer at Kaplan, Massamillo & Andrews LLC, according to a 2016 news release announcing her appointment.
Outside of her work as a litigation attorney, Russell was an active volunteer at animal shelters and the author of several children’s books related to animals.
For now, Russell said she’s figuring out her next steps.
“I’m just going to take some time and think,” Russell said. “I’ll never stop volunteering. I’ll never stop advocating for these animals.”
Twitter @Tessa_Weinberg
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