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Dogs await adoption in their kennels while a volunteer checks on other kennels during Animal Care Services’s free adoption event on September 27, 2025.<\/p>\n
JoMando Cruz<\/p>\n
The city of Corpus Christi wanted Antonio Caldwell to run its Animal Care Services department.<\/p>\n
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Officials announced Caldwell\u2019s May 18 start date and touted his work history, which included his most recent position: assistant director of San Antonio\u2019s\u00a0ACS department. He had held the San Antonio job for just five months.<\/p>\n
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Caldwell then did what successful job seekers usually do: he trumpeted his new job on social media, put in his notice with the city of San Antonio and started looking for someone to sublease his apartment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Last week, the Coastal Bend city withdrew its offer<\/a> just two days after\u00a0announcing it<\/a>. The city was vague about its change of heart, citing unspecified \u201cinconsistencies\u201d in his work history.\u00a0<\/p>\n San Antonio officials notified their Corpus Christi counterparts about \u201cseveral discrepancies,\u201d according to an April 22 memo that Corpus Christi\u2019s human resources director sent to the city leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Corpus Christi officials didn\u2019t describe the alleged discrepancies but said in a statement that they\u2019d cropped up \u201cduring our standard pre-employment verification process.\u201d<\/p>\n The memo, obtained by San Antonio Express-News, said Caldwell\u2019s last day with the city of San Antonio was set to be May 13, but he was \u201creleased from\u201d city employment on April 22.<\/p>\n A San Antonio city spokesman didn\u2019t answer questions about Caldwell\u2019s early release from his ACS position or communications between the two cities.<\/p>\n \u201cThe City\u2019s focus has now shifted to identifying his successor,\u201d spokesman Brian\u00a0Chasnoff said. \u201cThe City is committed to identifying a strong replacement and is exploring both internal and external candidates.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Caldwell declined comment for this story.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I am disappointed and still searching for answers, I remain focused on the future and I look forward to my next professional challenge,\u201d he said in a social media post. \u201cI am actively engaging with organizations where my experience in operations, lifesaving strategy, and organizational transformation can make a meaningful impact.\u201d<\/p>\n Leadership shuffle<\/p>\n Corpus Christi\u2019s April 20 news release\u00a0\u2014 the one announcing Caldwell\u2019s hiring\u00a0\u2014 said he had more than 20 years of executive and operational leadership experience in various fields.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n As far as his work in San Antonio, it said\u00a0Caldwell managed the entire department\u2019s annual budget of $34 million, led a team of 245 staff members and oversaw code enforcement, field services, veterinary care, marketing and communications\u00a0\u2014 which didn\u2019t jibe with his job description.<\/p>\n Lisa Norwood, spokeswoman for San Antonio\u2019s ACS, said the department has two assistant directors. One oversees field operations, such as code enforcement, and the other is in charge of shelter services. She said Caldwell oversaw the latter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Caldwell had been a deputy director of health, wellness and animal services for the city of Brownsville before he moved to San Antonio.\u00a0<\/p>\n Before working in animal welfare, Caldwell was a procurement manager for IDEA Public Schools, according to his LinkedIn page.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n