Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing fresh scrutiny over his time running Detroit’s animal control, after a report revealed that thousands of dogs and cats were euthanized under his leadership—and after he admitted on his own podcast that he is “not much of an animal guy.”
El-Sayed, who is locked in a competitive Michigan Senate race against Republican Mike Rogers, made the comments on an April 30, 2024 episode of his podcast, seven years after he oversaw the Detroit Department of Public Health and, by extension, Detroit Animal Care and Control. The Daily Mail recently reported that 4,680 dogs and cats were euthanized during El-Sayed’s two-year tenure, reviving questions about how he handled the embattled agency.
On the podcast, El-Sayed acknowledged his lack of affinity for animals while also defending his record. “It’s going to be no surprise to our listeners here that I’m not much of an animal guy. Like, you know, I love people, and I think that, like, that makes up for it,” he said, according to audio of the episode. He added, “And I love animals, and I feel like given our work together in the city, I’ve done justice to animal kind. Many, many nights working to save many animals.”
El-Sayed’s handling of animal control has resurfaced as part of a broader pattern of controversial statements he has made on his podcast and in other media appearances. He has previously said that “fireworks suck,” compared bacon to plutonium, and declared his hatred for Mackinac Island, a beloved Michigan tourist destination. But the animal control revelations carry a more serious weight, touching on his administrative record in public office.
El-Sayed took over Detroit Animal Care and Control at the end of 2015, when the city transferred the agency under his control as part of his role leading public health. At the time, animal control was facing whistleblower complaints that described the facility as a “slaughterhouse” due to high rates of unnecessary animal killings. The Daily Mail’s recent report detailed the scope of the euthanasia during El-Sayed’s tenure.
Just after taking over, El-Sayed reportedly banned a local Detroit outlet from interviewing the head of animal control because of the outlet’s negative coverage of the agency’s practices, according to the report.
During the April podcast, El-Sayed discussed his experience running animal control with a former colleague, offering a candid self-assessment. “I’ll be the first to tell you, I’m more of a people person than an animal person, but I learned to love the furry creatures, and I have to believe that I’ve done my duty by them,” he said. Noting that he owned two cats, El-Sayed said he preferred to keep some distance from animals. “I appreciate them, and I want to see them thrive,” he added. “They do them, and I do me.”
On the podcast, El-Sayed also claimed credit for reducing euthanasia rates at the facility. He said that when he took over, nearly eight in ten animals entering animal control were killed, but that the numbers had reversed by the time he left to mount an unsuccessful bid for governor.
Shortly after The Daily Mail published its story, El-Sayed released a campaign video featuring one of his former colleagues defending their time running animal control, according to the report.
A Record Under Fire
El-Sayed’s tenure at Detroit Animal Care and Control has become a political liability as he campaigns for the U.S. Senate in a state that could help determine control of the chamber. His past comments—from the flippant to the provocative—have already given his opponents ammunition, but the animal euthanasia numbers add a more substantive policy critique.
The Daily Mail’s report, which cited the 4,680 figure, has prompted renewed attention to how El-Sayed handled the agency. His decision to block a local outlet from interviewing the animal control chief suggests a defensive posture during a period of intense scrutiny, according to the reporting.
El-Sayed’s defenders, including the former colleague featured in his campaign video, have argued that he inherited a broken system and worked to improve it. The podcast comments, however, undercut that narrative for some critics, who see his “not much of an animal guy” admission as revealing a lack of genuine commitment to the animals in his care.
In the same podcast episode, El-Sayed framed his work as a matter of public service rather than personal passion. “I love people, and I think that, like, that makes up for it,” he said, a comment that may not sit well with animal rights advocates or voters who view animal welfare as a moral issue.
El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for further comment on the report.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/abdul-el-sayed-took-over-a-dog-slaughterhouse-he-admits-hes-not-an-animal-guy