San Jose’s animal shelter has a new leader, and the animal advocacy community is cautiously optimistic she can turn the facility around.

City officials recently announced Monica Wylie as deputy director of the Animal Care and Services division, which manages the San Jose Animal Care Center and the 12,000 animals it cares for annually. Wylie brings nearly 20 years of animal welfare experience, including six years as deputy director of the Humane Society for Tacoma, Washington and Pierce County. The city selected Wylie out of 27 candidates after a national search to fill the vacant position at the shelter, which advocates said has been dangerously mismanaged for too long.

“I’m inspired by the mission to provide a welcoming place for animals and those who care for them; to protect, educate,

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