Dr. Mueller retires as manager of Regional Animal Services of King County

Dr. Gene Mueller is retiring after 12 years as manager of Regional Animal Services of King County, whose Pet Adoption Center is in Kent.

His retirement is effective Friday, Dec. 6, according to a Dec. 6 news release from Regional Animal Services of King County.

“Regional Animal Services wouldn’t be the model of caring, compassionate animal care it is today without Gene’s leadership,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “As he heads into a well-deserved retirement, Gene leaves Regional Animal Services of King County in great shape for the future.”

Mueller came to King County in 2012, shortly after the agency was established as a partnership between two dozen cities and King County. During his tenure, animal services has cared for more than 50,000 animals, returned more than 10,000 stray pets to their owners, and issued more than one million pet licenses, according to the news release. In addition, animal services is one of the few municipal open-admission animal shelters in the nation to achieve no-kill status, with a live release rate of over 90%.

“I’d like to thank Executive Constantine, our staff and volunteers, and our whole community for trusting me to lead Regional Animal Services of King County for the last 12 years,” Mueller said. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people and pets of King County.”

Mueller was the administrator of Chicago’s largest critical-care veterinary hospital before coming to King County.

“Gene has always led with professionalism and efficiency, focused on delivering excellent service,” Constantine. said. “His impact will last for years to come.”

One of those lasting impacts is planning for a new animal shelter. The main building at the King County Pet Adoption Center, 21615 64th Ave. S., in Kent, is over 50 years old. Mueller helped develop a plan to fund a new facility, which was included in the executive’s 2025 budget proposal recently approved by the County Council.

Tim Anderson, who currently serves as the assistant operations manager at Regional Animal Services of King County, will take over as interim manager. The county expects to launch a nationwide search for a new leader in the coming weeks.