Membership and Seat Qualifications
The below listed summary of seats, term expirations and membership information shall serve as notice of vacancies, upcoming term expirations, and information on currently held seats, appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Appointments by other bodies are listed, if available.
Seat numbers listed as “VACANT” are open for immediate appointment. However, you are able to submit applications for all seats and your application will be maintained for one year, in the event that an unexpected vacancy or opening occurs.
Seat: 1
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Michael Reed
Term Ending: 4/30/2026
Qualifications:
Must represent the general public and have interest and experience in animal matters and be a resident of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 2
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Irina Ozernoy
Term Ending: 4/30/2026
Qualifications:
Must represent the general public and have interest and experience in animal matters and be a resident of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 3
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Mikaila Garfinkel
Term Ending: 4/30/2027
Qualifications:
Must represent the general public and have interest and experience in animal matters and be a resident of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 4
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Nicholas Chapman
Term Ending: 4/30/2027
Qualifications:
Must represent the general public and have interest and experience in animal matters and be a resident of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 5
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Dayna Sherwood
Term Ending: 4/30/2027
Qualifications:
Must represent the general public and have interest and experience in animal matters and be a resident of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 6
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Michael Angelo Torres
Term Ending: 4/30/2027
Qualifications:
Must represent the general public and have interest and experience in animal matters and be a resident of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 7
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: VACANT - Term Expired 4/30/24 Holdover Member – Brian Van Horn, DVM
Term Ending: 4/30/2026
Qualifications:
Must be a licensed veterinarian practicing in San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Appointing Authority: Animal Care and Control
Seat Holder: Amy Corso
Term Ending: Indefinite
Qualifications:
Director of the Animal Care and Control Department or his/her designated representative.
Term: Indefinite
Appointing Authority: Public Health
Seat Holder: George Han, MD, MPH
Term Ending: Indefinite
Qualifications:
Director of the Department of Public Health or his/her designated representative.
Term: Indefinite
Appointing Authority: Police
Seat Holder: Greg Sutherland
Term Ending: Indefinite
Qualifications:
Chief of Police or his/her designated representative.
Term: Indefinite
Appointing Authority: Recreation and Parks
Seat Holder: Christopher Campbell
Term Ending: Indefinite
Qualifications:
General Manager of the Recreation and Park Department or his/her designated representative.
Term: Indefinite
Additional Restrictions and Qualifications:
- No two individuals on the Commission shall be representatives, employees or officers of the same group, association, corporation, organization, or City Department.
- Each member shall be a resident of the City and County of San Francisco; except for the licensed veterinarian who must practice in San Francisco, but who need not be a resident of San Francisco.
Application Process
Please Note: Depending upon the posting date, a vacancy may have already been filled. To determine if a vacancy for this Commission is still available, or if you require additional information, please call the Rules Committee Clerk at (415) 554-5184.
Applications and other documents may be submitted to BOS-Appointments@sfgov.org
For seats appointed by other Authorities please contact the Board / Commission / Committee / Task Force (see below) or the appointing authority directly.
Next Steps:
Applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be contacted by the Rules Committee Clerk once the Rules Committee Chair determines the date of the hearing. Members of the Rules Committee will consider the appointment(s) at the meeting and applicant(s) may be asked to state their qualifications. The appointment of the individual(s) who is recommended by the Rules Committee will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Description:
The Commission of Animal Control and Welfare consists of eleven (11) members.
The seven (7) members appointed by the Board of Supervisors shall be voting members:
- Six (6) members shall represent the general public and have interest and experience in animal matters; and
- One (1) member must be a licensed veterinarian practicing in San Francisco.
The other four (4) members are non-voting members, as follows:
- One (1) member shall consist of the Director of the Animal Care and Control Department or his/her designated representative;
- One (1) member appointed by the Director of the Department of Public Health or his/her designated representative;
- One (1) member appointed by the Chief of Police or his/her designated representative; and
- One (1) member appointed by the General Manager of the Recreation and Park Department or his/her designated representative.
Each member of the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare of the City and County of San Francisco shall be a resident of the City and County of San Francisco, except for the licensed veterinarian, who must practice in San Francisco, but who need not be a resident of San Francisco.
The Commission shall have the powers and duties to: a) hold hearings and submit recommendations regarding animal control and welfare to the Board of Supervisors and the City Administrator; b) study and recommend requirements for the maintenance of animals in public, private, and commercial care; and c) work with the Tax Collector, Director of the Animal Care and Control Department, and authorized licensing entities to develop and maintain dog licensing procedures and make recommendations on fees.
Term of Office: Three of the members who are first appointed by the Board of Supervisors shall be designated to serve for terms of one year and three for two years from the date of their appointment. Thereafter, members shall be appointed as aforesaid for a term of two years, except that all of the vacancies occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. A member shall hold office until his or her successor has been appointed and has qualified.
Holdover Information:
Not Applicable
Report:
The Commission shall render a written report of its activities to the Board of Supervisors quarterly as stated in Health Code, Section 41.3.
Authority:
Health Code, Section 41.1 (Ordinance Nos. 226-73; 59-82; 182-89; 394-89; and 107- 99)
Sunset Date:
None
Contact:
Michael Angelo Torres
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 362
Office of the Clerk of the Board
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 554-6074
michaelangelo.torres@sfdph.org
Updated: December 2, 2025