Detroit's new animal care and control director is embroiled in controversy on the first day of his new job. Questions have been raised about his hiring after he was fired from his previous post in Dayton, Ohio, for a litany of issues, including a fatal dog mauling.

Mark Kumpf was fired from his job as the director of the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center in December, according to media reports.

Kumpf faced criticism from various animal advocacy groups who said the shelter in Ohio had high euthanasia rates. Kumpf and the shelter were also named in lawsuits, including one involving neglect in the dog-mauling death of Klonda Richey in 2014, according to the Dayton Daily News.

According to the newspaper, in Richey's death, numerous calls had been made and ignored about the two dogs who mauled her to death. The newspaper also reported that records were destroyed in that case. As of this month, the lawsuit is still pending, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Detroit Health Department spokeswoman Tamekia Ashford-Nixon said the city "fully vetted" Kumpf prior to his hiring. Ashford said Kumpf has already proposed a plan of action to improve services in Detroit

"We are very confident in his 30 years of experience and what he's going to do to bring a sense of security for residents as it relates to our team members responding to dangerous calls," Ashford-Nixon said. "We're looking at his 30 years of history. Any time you're dealing with any major city there's going to be situations as it relates to the public. ... We believe it's going to be a good fit."

Hakim Berry, Detroit's Chief Operating Officer, emphasized the city's confidence in Kumpf, and said that the Michigan Humane Society was also supportive of his hiring.

But Berry said he couldn't speak to any of Kumpf's prior issues.

"Based on the articles, it was an unfortunate incident like we had here," Berry said. "We are hopeful that will never happen again here in the city. Our first concern is public safety so we want to make sure we're doing all we can do so that no other person is injured by a dog."

Kumpf said in a statement that he's eager to join animal control and he hopes to hit the ground running "to make a difference in the lives of people and pets." Kumpf was not made available for an interview.

According to his biography, Kumpf's 30-year career includes several leadership roles including president of the Dayton Alliance for Companion Animals, National Animal Care & Control Association, and Ohio County Dog Wardens Association. He was also past co-chair of the National Coalition on Violence Against Animals.

But despite Kumpf's track record of leadership, he is the target of a online petition signed by more than 4,630 people who want him removed as director of Detroit's animal care and control. The petition states: "What is Detroit thinking??" and lists several news stories that have reported on Kumpf's prior conduct.

A Montgomery County spokeswoman declined comment when contacted by the Free Press to confirm his firing and said: "We don't comment on personnel (issues), especially not when he's getting a new job."

Detroit's animal control has been under fire for the past several years because of rotating leadership and issues reported at its shelter. Animal Control received a boost in funding earlier this year, increasing from about $2.6 million last year to nearly $3.3 million. But revolving leadership has been an issue, going through three directors in the past four years. The top post at animal control has been unfilled since May. Officials said they conducted a national search to fill the role.

Concerns about Detroit's animal control arose again last month after the horrific mauling of 9-year-old Emma Hernandez, who died Aug. 14 after she was attacked by three pit bulls while riding her bike in an alley near her home.

Hernandez's death happened four years after Xavier Strickland, 4, was mauled to death by three dogs. Strickland was walking in his west-side neighborhood when he was pulled away from his mother and attacked by the dogs.

Detroit Dog Rescue Executive Director Kristina Millman-Rinaldi said she briefly met with Kumpf and other Health Department leaders Monday and she believes he is dedicated to public safety and the needs of residents.

Millman-Rinaldi, who has been very vocal about issues facing Animal Control, said she also asked Kumpf about the lawsuit and reported dog mauling in Dayton.

Kumpf told her animal control officers did respond to the calls but reportedly found no issues at the home.

"... He said what ended up happening was there was a mauling," Millman-Rinaldi said. "This is his side of the story, that there was nothing they could find when they went out."

Millman-Rinaldi said she believes he has a lot of challenges ahead to address various issues at animal control but she wants to give Kumpf a chance.

"As far as public safety, I feel that we're on the same wavelength," Millman-Rinaldi said. "We asked some hard questions. I would like to give him a chance and see how his first weeks in this position goes."

Michigan Humane Society CEO Matt Pepper said he applauds the city for "making a commitment to both animal welfare and public safety."

"Obviously, there's some concerns over some issues in the past," Pepper said. "We're going to trust that the city's done its due diligence and if they've done their due diligence, then we're confident ... and given where we'd like the city to go, we're going to trust that he can be an additive to what the city's trying to accomplish."

Pepper said, next, various organizations and groups who work toward addressing animal care and safety issues in the city, will come to the table together to work toward a solution.

"I don't think that the city can do this alone, nor as an animal welfare community, as a nonprofit community, can we expect them to do it alone," Pepper said. "So, let's develop the appropriate relationships and systems to both balance public safety and animal welfare."

Kat Stafford is the Detroit government watchdog reporter for the Free Press, covering city issues and the community, and an Ida B. Wells investigative fellow with Type Investigations. Contact her at kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759.