Pet Czar: Scratch Sat. Dropoffs - by Lisa L. Colangelo, New York Daily News City Hall Bureau - Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Inc. - Working with the City of New York to promote dog and cat adoption and spay and neuter programs to make New York a no-kill city.

Home > The Alliance in the News > 2004 Alliance News Items > Pet Czar: Scratch Sat. Dropoffs

Pet Czar: Scratch Sat. Dropoffs

by Lisa L. Colangelo, New York Daily News City Hall Bureau

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Here's a new way to help the city save more stray dogs and cats: Don't drop off unwanted pets on the weekend.

Saturdays and Sundays are prime adoption days at New York City Animal Care & Control shelters.

If the shelters can free up staffers and cage space on those two days to deal exclusively with dogs and cats ready for adoption, more unwanted animals may be saved from euthanasia, officials said.

"Animal Care and Control has the largest selection of adoptable animals of any agency," said Ed Boks, executive director of the AC&C. "We want to encourage people to come on down."

At the same time, many people turn in their pets on weekends because it is more convenient.

"We're not going to refuse people," Boks said. "But if they can bring us the animals Monday through Friday, that animal has a much better chance of surviving."

Animal Care and Control, which operates under city contract, is the only agency required to handle all unwanted and stray animals in the five boroughs. Boks has reorganized the system since his appointment last year. Its shelters in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island take in nearly 50,000 strays a year — and 30,000 are euthanized.

But working with the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Boks is trying desperately to turn those statistics around. He said the number of adoptions has gone up dramatically in recent months. In December 2002, 848 animals were adopted from city shelters. That number jumped to 1,098 in December 2003.

Boks said there was a 50% increase last month, when 1,254 animals were adopted. In February 2003, 836 animals were adopted.

Rescue groups in the Mayor's Alliance — formed just over a year ago - have been working with the shelters to boost the number of adoptions.

Animal Care and Control also is extending its adoption days and hours. The three shelters will be open for adoptions seven days a week, from noon to 7 p.m.

"Both of these changes are designed to help us achieve the no-kill goal," Boks said.

For information, call 311 or visit the Animal Care and Control web site at www.nycacc.org.