More than a year after announcing plans to resign, Kathleen Chapa has left Animal Care Services, with the city still searching for a permanent director.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi Animal Care Services Director Kathleen Chapa has resigned, effective Thursday, according to City Manager Peter Zanoni.
Zanoni said Chapa is leaving the position to finish graduate school as she prepares for a career with a school district.
Assistant Animal Care Services Director Cynthia Martinez will now serve as interim director. Martinez brings 18 years of animal care experience to the role, including work at San Antonio Animal Care Services.
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Animal Care Services leadership changes as director search continues
Corpus Christi Animal Care Services director resigns; interim director named
Chapa had served as interim director since May 2024. In March 2025, she announced plans to resign but agreed to remain in the position while the city searched for a replacement.
More than a year later, Chapa has now left the department, with the city still searching for someone to permanently lead Animal Care Services.
The city is working with an executive recruiter on a nationwide search for a permanent Animal Care Services director. Assistant City Manager Sony Peronel said there is no timeline for when that search will end.
“We can’t give you a timeline, honestly,” Peronel said. “It’s just when we find the right candidate.”
The next permanent director will be hired by the city manager and will not require approval from the Corpus Christi City Council.
Animal welfare advocates hope for experienced leader
Alisa Mills, executive director of the Gulf Coast Humane Society, said the city’s next permanent director should have a background specifically in animal care and sheltering.
“Animal control is different. Animal sheltering is a different animal all on its own,” Mills said.
Mills said someone who has worked in a city of similar size or faced similar challenges could bring new ideas to Corpus Christi and help expand existing efforts between ACS and other animal welfare organizations.
She pointed to joint spay and neuter education as one area where continued collaboration could make a difference.
“If they would have somebody that had done it before, especially if they came from a city of similar size, or from similar struggles, they can bring all those wonderful things here and help Corpus take its next step,” Mills said.
Questions remain about ACS oversight
The leadership search also comes as some city leaders continue to raise concerns about the department’s oversight and operations.
District 3 City Councilman Eric Cantu said he believes some animals may be listed as having medical issues when lack of space is the actual reason they are euthanized. Cantu’s comments reflect his personal concerns about the department, and 3NEWS has not independently verified that allegation.
Others are calling for a specialized review of ACS by an animal care company to evaluate the department’s operations, staffing and needs, despite the city previously commissioning a needs assessment of the department.
“I know they did the needs assessment, but I think a needs assessment from a shelter professional company instead of a city professional company might be advantageous because then they’re looking at it strictly from the animal shelter side,” Mills said.
Martinez will lead the department on an interim basis while the city continues its search for a permanent director.