San Bernardino animal services director to retire; assistant named acting director

Chris Watson, director of San Bernardino’s Department of Animal Services, told the commission she will retire at the end of the week and said she will remain locally available to support staff during the transition.

A commissioner praised Watson’s transparency and leadership, saying she is “probably the best director that the animal services department has ever had” (comment attributed in the meeting to a commissioner). Watson responded that family obligations prompted her decision and that she is “here to support Jasmine and the team.”

The commission heard that Jasmine, the department’s community outreach manager, will be named acting director and that the city will open a recruitment for the permanent director role. Commissioners discussed the benefits of an internal candidate familiar with current programs and noted the department’s recent initiatives—including expanded regional partnerships, a satellite adoption center and a forthcoming modular kennel expansion—when urging continuity.

Commissioners and staff expressed appreciation for Watson’s tenure and said they would support a smooth transition; Jasmine said she will seek to continue the department’s current direction while a formal recruitment is conducted.

Ending: The commission recorded the personnel announcement as an informational update; no appointment to the permanent director position was made at this meeting.