At an April Rules Committee meeting, Supervisor Shamone Walton moved to appoint six people to the San Francisco Commission on Animal Control and Welfare to fill six seats; the committee approved the appointments without objection.

The appointments are Michael Reed (seat 1), Bridal Ozenoy (seat 2), Michaela Garfinkel (seat 3), Nicholas Chapman (seat 4), Dennis Sherwood (seat 5) and Michelangelo Torres (seat 6). The seats carry staggered terms ending April 30, 2026 (two seats) and April 30, 2027 (four seats), as noted on the agenda.

The appointments followed a public interviews portion in which 10 applicants addressed the committee. Applicants described a range of backgrounds: Dennis Sherwood said he spent about 10 years as a zookeeper at the San Francisco Zoo and about four years as a city animal control officer and said he had worked on investigations with the district attorney’s office; Ashley Hoffman said she will begin law school in the fall to study animal law; Michelangelo Torres identified himself as the current chair of the commission and said he was first appointed in 2019 and has served as chair for four years; other candidates cited volunteer work with local rescues, wildlife rehabilitation certificates and community organizing on animal issues.

Chair Shamone Walton moved the appointments. Vice Chair Cheryl, Board President Mandelmann and Chair Walton each voted “aye,” and the committee recorded the motion as passing without objection.

The committee did not receive public comment on the appointments during the meeting. Members said they reviewed applications and heard the applicants’ statements before making their selections.

The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors as prescribed by the city’s appointment process.