Nathan, You as a devoted animal advocate and wise attorney are always focused on the problems and what needs to be done. But it exasperates me to see the lack of humanity, sensitivity, and common sense of the people who run these pounds and the hypocrisy of such groups as Best Friends and the other phony organizations that spend donor money on advertising to pay themselves higher salaries. We need to get our government reps who are actually animal lovers to pass legislation that treats animals to the same benefits as humans (which would also represent votes).. Common Sense and Kindness and Compassion and Love must prevail ❤️🐶😸🎼🙏🇱🇷🌹
I have to push back on the part about the NYC shelter taking in less animals. I've been in some of the shelters and it's never looked the way it does now with dog crates in hallways and they continue to deal with agencies bringing in dogs, people surrendering due to becoming homeless and other reasons. The number of dogs in their care exceeds how many dogs they can house.
I think there's room for change such as more employees, more help training dogs, more fosters including letting accepting fosters who aren't within a 4-6 hr radius so NYC and start going outside of the 5 boroughs to have their adoption events.
The Mayor could institute a ban on dog breeding & professional breeders should be required to spay their dogs before giving the dog to their owner to prevent these owners from using their dog for profit, along with passing a $2 or $3 tax to help the City pay for free spay/neuter for anyone that needs it.
In 2019 (pre-pandemic), NYCACC took in 22,410 dogs and cats (7,787 dogs and 14,623 cats). In 2023, that number was 14,408 (5,274 dogs and 9,134 cats). That is 8,000 fewer animals than pre-pandemic levels.
You are genuinely concerned and this is good -- Abdussamad, you say you've been in some of the shelters and things look different "now" -- Can you describe how much time -- an estimate is good -- you've spent at these shelters? -- 3 hours a week ? -- 2 hrs a day, 4x a week? -- I want to gain understanding.
People can go in and look at animals whenever they're interested in adopting. The last time I went, it was to see the rabbits in Manhattan.
If you want to gain understanding then visit any one of the locations still operating; the adoption counselors will answer any questions or find out whatever you're looking to learn about a particular animal. *Brooklyn is closed for renovations.
You are right! While intakes have not increased, adoptions and rescue are BELOW what they were in previous years. This means dogs are staying longer in shelters. This means that shelters are holding more dogs than they have in the past!
Yes, adoptions are down in NYC and it is no surprise. NYCACC requires a multi-step process that discourages people from visiting the shelter until they have an approved online application, even though unscheduled visits have a documented track record of increasing adoption. Worse, many potential adopters have complained that they don’t hear back about their applications.
NYCACC also limits the number of people who can visit — a maximum of two per family — and how long they can stay — a maximum of 30 minutes. This prevents families with children from visiting and reduces the chance of adoption for those who do. The longer a family spends in the shelter, the more likely they are to adopt.
That’s not all. NYCACC has a waitlist system at the shelters, sometimes requires multiple visits before people can finalize their adoption, and tells people that once they go through the bureaucratic process, which could take days, to expect the actual adoption process to take several additional hours.
NYCACC can’t have it both ways. It cannot discourage adoptions post-pandemic while lamenting fewer adoptions compared to prior years when those procedures were not in place.
I've never been given a time limit when going in person and I see families come in with at least 3 children, this includes the mom & dad. How long ago were you at one of the locations.
Plus applications are for the small dogs at least that's what's posted online.
Adoptions are low But intake is high. Read their current newsletter & checkout Must Love Dogs FB page (if you don't already) dogs are always being surrendered.
Also the NYC Council meeting concerning the shelter overcrowding is coming up on September 13 at City Hall, 10 am. If you can go, get there early.
I have to read this twice slowly as it is so relevant to me and my concerns.
I just started speaking up to my city to get them to take responsibility for stray dogs after hours instead of expecting me to be left holding the leash as I am on occasion.
The No Kill Advocacy Center is working on legislation in a major U.S. city to force the local pound to maximize placement through foster care, marketing and promotion, high-volume sterilization, offsite adoptions, and other robust adoption campaigns, including being open when people are off work and families are together, such as on weekends and evenings. It also would require the pound to maintain a 95% placement rate. But to prevent their abdicating their responsibility, it also prohibits the animal shelter from refusing to take in lost and abandoned animals found within its jurisdiction. We expect fierce opposition from the usual suspects.
Nathan, You as a devoted animal advocate and wise attorney are always focused on the problems and what needs to be done. But it exasperates me to see the lack of humanity, sensitivity, and common sense of the people who run these pounds and the hypocrisy of such groups as Best Friends and the other phony organizations that spend donor money on advertising to pay themselves higher salaries. We need to get our government reps who are actually animal lovers to pass legislation that treats animals to the same benefits as humans (which would also represent votes).. Common Sense and Kindness and Compassion and Love must prevail ❤️🐶😸🎼🙏🇱🇷🌹
I have to push back on the part about the NYC shelter taking in less animals. I've been in some of the shelters and it's never looked the way it does now with dog crates in hallways and they continue to deal with agencies bringing in dogs, people surrendering due to becoming homeless and other reasons. The number of dogs in their care exceeds how many dogs they can house.
I think there's room for change such as more employees, more help training dogs, more fosters including letting accepting fosters who aren't within a 4-6 hr radius so NYC and start going outside of the 5 boroughs to have their adoption events.
The Mayor could institute a ban on dog breeding & professional breeders should be required to spay their dogs before giving the dog to their owner to prevent these owners from using their dog for profit, along with passing a $2 or $3 tax to help the City pay for free spay/neuter for anyone that needs it.
https://www.nycacc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ACC-2023-ANNUAL-SAC.pdf
In 2019 (pre-pandemic), NYCACC took in 22,410 dogs and cats (7,787 dogs and 14,623 cats). In 2023, that number was 14,408 (5,274 dogs and 9,134 cats). That is 8,000 fewer animals than pre-pandemic levels.
You are genuinely concerned and this is good -- Abdussamad, you say you've been in some of the shelters and things look different "now" -- Can you describe how much time -- an estimate is good -- you've spent at these shelters? -- 3 hours a week ? -- 2 hrs a day, 4x a week? -- I want to gain understanding.
People can go in and look at animals whenever they're interested in adopting. The last time I went, it was to see the rabbits in Manhattan.
If you want to gain understanding then visit any one of the locations still operating; the adoption counselors will answer any questions or find out whatever you're looking to learn about a particular animal. *Brooklyn is closed for renovations.
You are right! While intakes have not increased, adoptions and rescue are BELOW what they were in previous years. This means dogs are staying longer in shelters. This means that shelters are holding more dogs than they have in the past!
Yes, adoptions are down in NYC and it is no surprise. NYCACC requires a multi-step process that discourages people from visiting the shelter until they have an approved online application, even though unscheduled visits have a documented track record of increasing adoption. Worse, many potential adopters have complained that they don’t hear back about their applications.
NYCACC also limits the number of people who can visit — a maximum of two per family — and how long they can stay — a maximum of 30 minutes. This prevents families with children from visiting and reduces the chance of adoption for those who do. The longer a family spends in the shelter, the more likely they are to adopt.
That’s not all. NYCACC has a waitlist system at the shelters, sometimes requires multiple visits before people can finalize their adoption, and tells people that once they go through the bureaucratic process, which could take days, to expect the actual adoption process to take several additional hours.
NYCACC can’t have it both ways. It cannot discourage adoptions post-pandemic while lamenting fewer adoptions compared to prior years when those procedures were not in place.
You are correct. I cannot understand any shelter that would discourage adopters and visitors. We are open 7 days a week!
I've never been given a time limit when going in person and I see families come in with at least 3 children, this includes the mom & dad. How long ago were you at one of the locations.
Plus applications are for the small dogs at least that's what's posted online.
Adoptions are low But intake is high. Read their current newsletter & checkout Must Love Dogs FB page (if you don't already) dogs are always being surrendered.
Also the NYC Council meeting concerning the shelter overcrowding is coming up on September 13 at City Hall, 10 am. If you can go, get there early.
I have to read this twice slowly as it is so relevant to me and my concerns.
I just started speaking up to my city to get them to take responsibility for stray dogs after hours instead of expecting me to be left holding the leash as I am on occasion.
The No Kill Advocacy Center is working on legislation in a major U.S. city to force the local pound to maximize placement through foster care, marketing and promotion, high-volume sterilization, offsite adoptions, and other robust adoption campaigns, including being open when people are off work and families are together, such as on weekends and evenings. It also would require the pound to maintain a 95% placement rate. But to prevent their abdicating their responsibility, it also prohibits the animal shelter from refusing to take in lost and abandoned animals found within its jurisdiction. We expect fierce opposition from the usual suspects.
They are mostly doing that right now
for dogs only.
The strays after hours are not responded to at all.
How awful. After hours is when stray pets need help the most.
You don't want to surrender the stray dogs to the police station?
Thank you for details -- thank you for facts -- will share and share.