County administration proposes stand‑alone Animal Care and Control department; bill would shift staff and change cat licensing

County administration presented Bill 2,525 on April 15, proposing to elevate Animal Care and Control from a unit within the Police Department to a stand‑alone department and to simplify some licensing rules.

Ethan Hunt, speaking for the administration, said the measure “merely makes this a stand alone department” and does not change existing dangerous‑animal policies. He said the staff complement would move intact: “Currently [Animal Care and Control] has 34 merit positions…all of those positions…will be transferred out of the police department and into the new department.” The bill would leave merit status classifications, bargaining units and county employment status unchanged and would create an exempt director post similar to other county departments.

Why it matters: the reorganization is administrative in scope but could affect how animal welfare, shelter and enforcement…