Helping New York’s Animals

Nobody can deny the lifesaving accomplishments of Animal Care Centers of NYC (“Dog death row pols’ pet peeve,” April 25).

With help from the ASPCA and other partners, ACC achieved an outstanding 93 percent live-release rate in 2017. This is especially impressive considering ACC turns no animal away.

But that truth was ignored in two recent Post articles charging ACC with using “inadequate methods” to assess animal behavior, and labeling ACC’s policy of re- serving certain at-risk animals for third-party rescuers “red tape” and “bureaucratic hurdles.”

ACC uses a range of validated evaluation methods, and of the small percentage of ACC animals assessed to be so ill or behaviorally challenged that they are at risk of euthanasia, roughly 80 percent are still successfully placed in homes or rescues.

Using third-party rescue partners is an important tool to help at-risk animals receive the specialized care and training they need.

The overwhelming majority of ACC’s animals stay as long as necessary to find new homes, and community support of ACC will absolutely help even more animals in need find safe and loving homes. Matt Bershadker President, ASPCA Westchester Risa Weinstock President, ACC Long Island

City Council members’ scrutiny of the euthanasia practices at the city’s animal shelter system.