Updated Sept. 13 9:37 a.m.
I could write a book about outdoor community cats, NYC’s Animal Care Centers (ACC), and the way New York City government, our elected officials, treat other species, in particular cats and dogs. However, at the moment, the ACC, the shelter system, is in crisis. The city recently shut down its one Brooklyn shelter located in East New York to upgrade it without a temporary back up unit in place. It’s so irresponsible. Instead, they applauded themselves that after years a Queens center was finally opening, as if switching one for the other made sense. The Queens shelter quickly became overloaded. The pandemic has done a number on all of us but that doesn’t mean we just throw in the towel. Pre-pandemic, the system wasn’t good enough. This is our responsibility. In a city with so much wealth, it’s embarrassing.
At last, the City Council Health Committee is holding a public hearing on the state of animals and animal rescue. The ACC (Animal Care Centers) has not been able to – for a number of reasons – pull its weight. This is not entirely the management’s fault but, yes, to a large degree it is – although the city needs to fund it better and take it outside the aegis of the NYC Department of Health. It’s not an easy job but animals should not be killed at the rate they are there.
In the absence of a better system, animal rescue groups have been created and stepped up. These are often non profits; many are grassroots efforts. All work to feed, rescue and help ill, injured, dying, lost friendly and unfriendly homeless cats and dogs who find themselves on the streets.
Unfortunately, if they are brought to one of the ACC shelters, they are then on the clock – to possible or certain death – no matter what their status.
On Friday, September 13th, the City Council Health Committee will host a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. in the New York City Hall Council Chambers. Some details here.
The sponsor of the meeting is Brooklyn City Council Member Justin Brannan. Click here for the Committee Report
The public is invited and encouraged to speak. Please attend if you can. [You can watch video live here and it will later be archived.]
Featured pictures of some of my old neighborhood cat friends. Look out for your community cats!
Calli, it turns out, had a nearby home. Hart (also called Chico) had a lot of other people looking out for him. He would walk with me through the neighborhood before adopted. When he got an injured foot, neighbors rallied to raise funds for a vet visit and he was later adopted by one of the families with his best friend, Ava (Panda). “Lucky” Sam still roams the neighborhood, he’s not a big fan of people overall but will accept food and has someone else now looking out for him. He now even has option of a heated house in the winter!
Photos: Cathryn
I’ll be testifying today down at City Hall regarding oversight of acc. We need a civilian Advisory Board among so much else. As with any successful business you put the proper brilliant ethical Professionals in the proper positions with the proper plans and just as importantly the proper motivation and mindset behind those plans and you will have success. None of that’s in place. Basic business 101.. especially for this business you need to Market yourself. Most people in New York City have no idea that nycacc even exists and that’s a huge problem. No marketing equals no awareness equals little to no adoptions. Very basic business. At the January 2024 board meeting… RISA WEINSTOCK whined, ” we’re just a small group”. As a business numbers and systems person I will say you can be a small group and run well and be highly efficient when the proper people are in place. It was a foolish remark. Just more of the same lame excuses. This needs to be run by a brilliant ethical business person, along with brilliant ethical admin, marketing, and animal professionals who are Honorable to the animals. Basic business 101.. far from rocket science
Hi Judith,
Thank you for your advocacy and sharing your thoughts on what ACC can do and do better. There is much ‘potential’ there and it shouldn’t be that hard to galvanize. I appreciate these ideas. I was not able to attend but I watched the initial part via the Council’s video stream and will catch up with the rest shortly.
Thank you.
Cathryn
WSP Blog