Ed Sayres of the ASPCA, Julie Bank of AC&C, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Jane Hoffman of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals met with the media on April 12 to announce good news for the City's pets.
Photo by Rick Edwards
Mayor Bloomberg Announces Good News at April 12 Press Conference
Euthanasia at City shelters is down. The ASPCA has committed another $1 million to the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals efforts. Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) has a new Executive Director.
On April 12, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced these important developments to representatives of the media at a late-morning press conference at City Hall.
"This is a great example of the kind of partnership between the City and non-profit organizations that is so necessary in these challenging economic times," said the Mayor.
Ed Sayres, President and CEO of the ASPCA, Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, and Julie Bank, newly appointed Executive Director of AC&C, joined the Mayor in making the announcements, while Chrysler, Spirit, Gilbert, and Marshall — four dogs available for adoption from the ASPCA and AC&C — stood patiently by, awaiting their close-ups.
Animal Welfare Announcement
by the Office of the Mayor, City of New York
The ASPCA's $1 million grant is a continuation of its ongoing commitment to the Mayor's Alliance efforts to transform New York City into a no-kill community by 2015. In 2005 the ASPCA, a founding member of the Alliance, provided a five-year, $5 million grant that qualified the Alliance for the multi-year grant from Maddie's Fund, which is funding its ten-year no-kill initiative. "We know there are no 'quick fixes' to ending the unnecessary euthanasia of animals," said Mr. Sayres, "but we do know, and have proof, that collaboration among all groups in striving to reduce the unnecessary euthanasia of these animals can work."
And it is working in New York City. As we reported in last month's Out of the Cage!, thanks to continued support from Maddie's Fund and the ASPCA, and the tireless efforts of the 160-plus Alliance Participating Organizations (including AC&C), euthanasia at AC&C shelters was reduced to 33 percent in 2009.
"New York City's euthanasia rate for companion animals is at its lowest in history," said Ms. Hoffman. "Through the Alliance, we're able to pool resources, overcome differences in priorities, and facilitate the collaboration of four key groups — the public, local government, Animal Care & Control of NYC, and local no-kill shelters and rescue groups — to work toward solving the problem of animal homelessness."
Ed Sayres from the ASPCA, along with his ASPCA colleagues Rebecca McNeill and Mark Knight and adoptable dogs Spirt and Chrysler, presents Jane Hoffman from the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals with a check for $1 million, a continuation of the ASPCA's 2005 five-year, $5 million grant.
Photo by Robin Fostel, ASPCA
Thus poised to continue to reduce and eventually eliminate the killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs at AC&C shelters, the Mayor's Alliance looks forward to working with
AC&C's new Executive Director, Julie Bank, who took the reins of the City's shelters on April 12, the day of the press conference. A native New Yorker, Ms. Bank says she feels "privileged to lead an organization so committed to the welfare of animals," and is "confident that by working together, we will continue to increase the number of animals that find safe, loving homes."
To learn more about our progress, see our Summary Ten-Year Strategic Plan and Progress Report 2009.
