NYC’s pound has gone to the dogs

Once again, the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) has closed its doors — this time to dogs. This past October, it was again for dogs, and in August, the ACC closed its doors again — but this time to cats. Why? Overcrowding in their facilities. Too many people turning in animals.

The ACC is open admission and has facilities in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island. This means they must take in all animals — unless there is a good reason as they now claim.

When the ASPCA gave up its animal control contract with the city in 1994, the city create a replacement — then known as the Center for Animal Care and Control, under the auspices of the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH.) It’s always been treated like a stepchild since the stated mission of the DOHMH is to protect people’s health — not animals.

From the beginning, the CACC/ ACC was fraught with problems. It went through many executive directors. Some good; some bad. A culture of fear exists with rescuers and volunteers being warned not to publicly criticize. It’s been referred to as a quasi-city agency because there have always been ex-officio members on its board, and it now has a 34-year contract with the city. “Animal control” is a government responsibility and the ACC is mostly funded by our tax dollars.

Even though the ACC is the NYC pound, they are not forthcoming with information — there is no transparency — no public oversight. The well-founded criticism is typically from knowledgeable animal advocates whose concerns mostly fall on deaf ears.

The ACC’s leaders are not “activists” — and they continue to play the victim by not addressing the issue of too many homeless animals head on. It is the “elephant in the room” metaphor representing an obvious problem, which no one is addressing.

Those in charge — whether at the ACC or our elected officials, including Mayor Adams — do nothing about this homeless animal problem. So, they choose to cry overcrowding and hope some animals get adopted. There is no attempt to get to the root of the problem, which, like the elephant — is obvious.

Ironically, February is Spay/ Neuter Awareness Month. But if there are no options available or any education — what’s the point!

If NYC wants to address this problem head on, this is what is needed:

l Spay/neuter facilities — easily accessible and subsidized. Most of the animals coming into the shelter are not spayed or neutered and have had litters. Some are pregnant. They are discarded by their uncaring owners or dumped on the streets. Dogs are often tied to park benches — or just let loose. Cats are thrown out in their carriers if not directly on the street.

The most common excuse given by people getting rid of their pets is allergies and moving/landlord issues. True or not, they are indisputable. But there are other priceless ones such as getting rid of a senior pet while “going on vacation” or “just too old.” Some of the animals dumped were originally adopted at the ACC and call into question the quality of their adoptions. Some people should never have a pet and be offered education or a stuffed animal instead.

The few low cost spay/neuter facilities around are booked for months and the average person does not know about them.

l A public information campaign. Access to such subsidized facilities should be teamed with an educational campaign about the necessity of being a responsible pet parent and the benefits of neutering. There is no reason to have it now because there are no readily accessible clinics. Private vets charge upwards of $1,000 for a cat spay and most people either don’t have the money or are not willing to spend it. Consequences? More unwanted cats and dogs are born.

l Mandatory spay/neuter legislation with a sunset clause to get the situation under control. Breeders who have opposed such legislation previously could be exempt.

Does the City of New York want to keep this status quo? Too many animals, not enough homes, high euthanasia, homeless strays on the street — many starving and abused. Intact dogs and cats, who through no fault of their own, contribute to the massive homeless animal population.

The mayor, City Council, and agencies like the Department of Health, which oversees the ACC, look the other way. Yet animal control is a government responsibility and NYC has failed miserably.

New York is the wealthiest city in the world. The money is available to do something about our Third World system for animals — whether privately funded or public/private partnerships. But will someone step up? Or will it continue to be a shameful embarrassment.

Forel is president of the Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc.