Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing renewed scrutiny over his tenure overseeing the Detroit Animal Care and Control (DACC) agency, an operation that was transferred to his department in October 2015. The resurfaced allegations of neglect, poor conditions, and high euthanasia rates are now becoming a significant issue in the state's US Senate contest.
"I was almost embarrassed with myself to be part of a team that played a role of the death of so many dogs in their cages." — Brittany Roberts, Former Animal Control Officer
El-Sayed, who led the Detroit Health Department at the time, assumed responsibility for DACC after it was moved from the Detroit Police Department. This transfer occurred amidst serious accusations regarding the shelter's treatment of animals. Brittany Roberts, a former animal control officer, described the facility as a "slaughterhouse" in 2015, alleging that dogs were often left to suffer in their cages rather than being humanely euthanized. "I was almost embarrassed with myself to be part of a team that played a role of the death of so many dogs in their cages," Roberts stated, adding, "Every morning, we’d just walk around and see who was alive before we could even feed." Roberts filed a whistleblower lawsuit in October 2015, alleging animals died from neglect, were housed in unsanitary conditions, and that she was harassed and fired after reporting these issues.
Prior to El-Sayed's department taking control, DACC was reportedly struggling significantly. Best Friends Animal Society indicated that the shelter saved approximately 20% of animals in 2015, with state data placing its live-release rate at 26%. In 2015 alone, the agency euthanized 1,988 dogs and 272 cats, totaling 2,260 animals.
Following the transfer of DACC to the Health Department under El-Sayed's leadership, the city initiated several significant reforms. Officials eliminated a previous policy that had prevented direct adoptions from the shelter, expanded partnerships with external animal rescue and foster organizations, and appointed Melissa Miller as the new animal control director in December 2015. The shelter also relocated to a larger facility donated by the Michigan Humane Society, further expanding its capacity and collaborations with outside animal-welfare groups.
These changes appeared to yield positive results in terms of live-release rates. By September 2016, the shelter's live-release rate had reportedly climbed to 61%. The following month, Miller announced a further increase to 62%, marking a substantial improvement compared to the previous year's figures. Then-Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan acknowledged the severe problems that had plagued the facility, describing the earlier euthanasia rate as "unacceptable" and praising the improved rate as "more in line with national standards."
However, despite these improvements, animals continued to be euthanized under the oversight of El-Sayed's department. Records cited by the Daily Mail reportedly show that in 2016, the first full calendar year under his department's control, 1,056 dogs and 29 cats were euthanized. The outlet further reported that records covering the broader period surrounding El-Sayed’s tenure showed a total of 4,680 dogs and cats were euthanized.
The resurfaced figures have become a focal point in the Michigan US Senate race, where El-Sayed recently secured the Democratic primary nomination. Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has seized on the controversy, stating on X, "This is sickening. Abdul El-Sayed wants Michiganders to trust him with their families. Meanwhile, Detroiters couldn’t even trust him with their pets." The allegations have also drawn attention from other political figures, with Michael LaRosa, former press secretary to Jill Biden, expressing skepticism and seeking verification.
The record presents a complex picture. While the most severe allegations about the shelter's conditions and high euthanasia rates predated and coincided with the transfer of DACC to El-Sayed's department, significant numbers of animals were still euthanized during his oversight. Simultaneously, his department implemented reforms that demonstrably improved the shelter's live-release rate from a low of 20-26% to over 60% within a year. This nuanced history is now central to the political discourse as El-Sayed campaigns for federal office.
