Rules Committee names four to Animal Control and Welfare Commission; appointees to be forwarded to full Board

The San Francisco Rules Committee on July 18 recommended four candidates for appointment to the Commission on Animal Control and Welfare and will forward the committee’s recommendations to the full Board for confirmation.

The committee considered eight applicants for four seats. Incumbent Sally Stevens, who has served six years on the commission and has led efforts such as a city ban on declawing cats, was nominated for Seat 5. Other candidates recommended by the committee were Zachary Marks (Seat 3), Jennifer Jamieson (Seat 6) and Russell Tanofsky/Chanofsky (Seat 4) following committee discussion about volunteerism, animal-rescue experience and community engagement.

James York recounted his decades of rehoming animals and said complaints about his store were infrequent and handled by Animal Care & Control inspections. Jennifer Jamieson described running a small rescue focused on black dogs and cats and cited trap-neuter-release work for feral cats. Zachary Marks, chair of the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, said he supports regulation of high-volume dog walkers. Sally Stevens, the commission chair and a longtime volunteer, emphasized practical education programs such as dog training at recreation centers.

Supervisor discussion focused on balancing experience, volunteer service and community representation. After a motion listing specific seats for the named candidates, the committee passed the motion without objection and advised successful nominees that final confirmation occurs after the full Board’s vote. The clerk will place the forwarded appointments on the Board agenda for consideration on July 23.