Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is facing renewed criticism over Detroit’s animal control service during his time as the city’s health director. The scrutiny follows social-media attention on claims by a former employee that the department operated like a “dog slaughterhouse”, an allegation that has become a political liability in his Senate campaign.

El-Sayed took responsibility for Detroit Animal Care and Control in late 2015, when its live-release rate was reportedly about 20% to 26%. The article says the rate later rose, but critics argue that serious allegations of animal mistreatment during the period warrant greater accountability from El-Sayed.