Animal Care Agency Forced To Stop Accepting Cats In NYC
The city’s animal-care agency has halted “cat intakes” at its three centers due to an increase in pet owners surrendering their beloved animals, primarily because of financial difficulties. Dorothy Blomquist, an Animal Care Centers admission supervisor, revealed that up to 40 animals are being brought in daily, with financial struggles being a common reason cited by owners. Some individuals face tough decisions between their own well-being and that of their pets.
Jen Brooks, who manages NYC Second Chance Rescue, agreed that financial constraints are the main cause of pet surrenders, resulting in overcrowding at animal shelters. The Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) has been forced to house animals in “pop-up kennels” in hallways and offices, which has become a critical capacity issue.
For instance, a cat named Grubhub was recently found and placed in a pop-up kennel in East Harlem, while a dog named Brooklyn has been living in the administrative office since being surrendered by his owner’s friend four months ago.
Despite the overcrowding and closing of cat intakes, ACC has taken in around 100 cats in recent days. Katy Hansen, ACC’s director of marketing and communications, explained that they remain committed to accepting animals in need, even though their adoption rates are struggling to keep up with intake rates.
In the past year, ACC has faced challenges with over 15,000 intakes, leading to nearly 3,000 animals being euthanized, primarily due to “owner-intended euthanasia.” The center has received criticism for these deaths, while adoption rates remain relatively low compared to the number of animals brought in.
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