Strike ruff for shelter animals - Strike ruff for shelter animals - by Lisa L. Colangelo, New York Daily News - 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 > 2005 Alliance News Items > Strike ruff for shelter animals

by Lisa L. Colangelo, New York Daily News

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Two-legged New Yorkers aren't the only ones recovering from the transit strike.

Homeless animals at city shelters, some of whom had already been adopted, were stuck in their cages while new owners were unable to get to them.

And overall adoptions dropped sharply during the days that buses and subways weren't running.

"Our adoptions are down about 27% over the same time last year," said Richard Gentles, director of operations at Animal Care & Control.

New Hope transfers, in which unwanted animals are picked up by rescue groups to make more room at city shelters, slowed because of the strike.

"Some of our New Hope partners couldn't get here either," Gentles said.

The Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals dispatched its transport van and volunteer driver Joe Pastore to deliver animals to rescue groups in Rockland and Sullivan counties.

However, it wasn't all about dogs and cats. A black potbellied pig was brought to the Manhattan shelter last week. She was found in a Bronx apartment after her owner died.

Shelter staff were wondering how to get the pig to a sanctuary when ASPCA Special Agent Joseph Lemos, a retired NYPD officer, decided to adopt the pig and brought her to his upstate home.

Animal Care & Control, which handles all stray and homeless animals in the five boroughs, has reduced its fees for the holidays to help boost adoptions. Under the Home For the Holidays special, it costs $25 to adopt one cat and $35 for two. The adoption fee for dogs is now $50 instead of $75.

For information, check the Web site at www.nycacc.org.