The city is seeking a new El Paso Animal Services director after the previous leader’s abrupt departure – a move that comes as animal welfare advocates call for greater transparency in how the department is run.
Former Director Terry Kebschull retired in September amid ongoing community backlash and concerns about his leadership of the department. Kebschull was hired for the role in March 2022 from the El Paso Fire Department by former City Manager Tommy Gonzalez. Kebschull could not be reached for comment. Michael Wachsmann, deputy director for the department, is serving as interim.
The city posted the job opening for the national search in late September and will keep it open until it is filled, City Manager Dionne Mack said in an emailed response to El Paso Matters. The city manager, under the council-manager form of government, hires executives, including department heads. The salary range for the new director will be from $160,000 to $175,000 per year, according to the job posting.
A petition is asking city leadership to abide by the job requirements outlined in the description and have a transparent hiring process. “Appoint a director with proven experience, professionalism, and dedication to animal welfare. The citizens, taxpayers, and animals of El Paso deserve competent, qualified, and ethical leadership in this vital role,” the petition, which has about 540 signatures, states.
The petition created by Marisol Sanchez, founder of Living Border/Frontera Viva advocacy group, said she started the petition because the job affects animals that do not have anyone to speak for them.
“They just have us,” Sanchez said.
Mack said interviews for the new director position will not be held until January after the holiday season. She also said she was planning on having community involvement, but will expand it based on the petition.
“I initially intended to meet with a select group of stakeholders for a focus group discussion; however, due to the recent petition, we will reach out to a wider audience,” Mack said.
The city will also conduct a community survey that will focus on the top priorities for the new director during the first 100 days. The survey will launch by the end of the month, she said.
She said feedback from the survey will help shape interview questions and candidate presentations, adding that the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee will be invited to participate in the interview process. The committee is made up of 13 community members appointed by the City Council and includes a veterinarian, an animal welfare advocate, an employee of animal services, and one council member. City Rep. Chris Canales serves as chair.
The job requirements include that the candidate have at least eight years of professional administrative experience or animal control experience, management or supervisory experience, and a bachelor’s degree or higher in management, business or public administration, environmental or public health, zoology or other related field. Applicants must also have an Animal Welfare Administrator certification or must obtain it within one year of hiring.
The new director would be responsible for overseeing an annual department budget of $16 million and three divisions – animal control and shelter services, administrative services, and veterinary services. The department has three adoption centers – a main campus at 5001 Fred Wilson Ave., a recently opened Westside center at 5625 Confetti Dr., and a Mission Valley adoption center at 9068 Socorro Road.
Animal Services took in about 23,000 animals in 2024, according to the most recent annual impact report. In 2024, the shelter adopted out about 8,100 pets, returned about 2,400 pets to their owners, transferred about 3,000 to other rescues and conducted about 14,000 surgeries.
Advocates seek shelter reform
Some community advocates said hiring someone qualified is critical for the future of Animal Services that has impacts throughout the community.
“We need somebody from outside El Paso, or if there’s somebody here that is qualified enough, that’d be fantastic,” Karen Washington, who operates Pawsitive Rescuers of El Paso, said.
Washington is among dozens of animal advocates who have regularly spoken out during City Council meetings about concerns over how Animal Services has been operating.
She said she welcomes being able to give feedback to the city ahead of the hiring.
“I think that would be great, because it’s never been done – this will be a first,” Washington said. “Take our feedback and our input, you know, we’re the boots on the ground, (we’re the) people that are out here doing the work, and we see and we hear almost everything. So I think that’s a step in the right direction – to meet with us – I’d be thrilled.”
Shelter reforms have been an ongoing struggle since before Animal Services became its own department. The live release date in 2015, before the shelter made efforts to move toward a no-kill shelter the following year, was about 42%. Live releases are animals that are either adopted, returned to their owners or sent to other organizations without being euthanized.
The live-release rate for September 2025 was about 83%, according to shelter reports, but critics have said the department has relied heavily on the community to address stray dogs and cats. Of the more than 3,400 animals in the shelter’s care on Sept. 30, about 2,400 of them were in foster care – leaving just over 1,000 in Animal Services shelters.
Five leaders in under 10 years
Consistent leadership has also been an issue for the department, documents obtained by El Paso Matters through the Texas Public Information Act show.
Animal Services has had five leaders since becoming its own department in 2016. The shelter was previously operated under the Environmental Services Department.
Kurt Fenstermacher was appointed interim in September 2015 ahead of the Animal Services becoming its own department. He previously worked as assistant director for the Environmental Services Department. He served as interim until he was abruptly reassigned by Gonzalez in 2017. He was paid about $109,000 as interim director.
Gonzalez then started a task force in July 2017 to implement shelter reforms led by Paula Powell, who was previously the assistant director of Parks and Recreation. Powell served as interim director until she took on the director position in April 2018 with a salary of about $125,000, documents show. She retired after less than three years in the position.
Ramon Herrera, a marketing and public engagement manager and member of the task force, was named interim director in January 2021 after Powell’s departure. Herrera was paid about $103,000 for the interim role. He served as interim until Kebschull was hired.
Kebschull was hired by Gonzalez in March 2022 from the fire department with a base pay of about $140,000. He retired in September. He recently told El Paso Inc. the job was more difficult than he expected and wished the department could have provided more spay and neuter services to help address the animal overpopulation during his time as director.
“I thought it would be easier than it was. When you’re actually doing it for real, instead of just hearing some things, it is totally different,” Kebschull told El Paso Inc. “The job gets harder day by day. Every second and every part of the day, we’re taking care of hundreds, if not thousands, of animals. There are so many layers and levels as well. It’s not just an animal coming into the shelter. We adopt them out. Of course, there’s medical care. There are people out in the field. There’s the education part, finding the adopters, and advertising everything. Just so many components. It’s a difficult job, but it’s very rewarding.”
City of El Paso Key Vacant Positions
The city of El Paso is also looking to fill two other key positions:
The position became vacant after longtime Chief Internal Auditor Edmundo Calderon retired in August. His last day is Oct. 10. The city did not appoint an interim auditor while the city conducts a national search using the city’s Human Resources Department. The position has been open for 30 days and will remain open until the City Council appoints Calderon’s replacement.
Yvette Hernandez, a city engineer, served as director until she was promoted to deputy city manager in February. Gilbert Guerrero is currently the interim. The prior capital improvement director was Sam Rodriguez, who retired in April 2024.
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