Latest news with #AnimalCareCenters
New York Times
11 hours ago
- General
- New York Times
As Cost-Burdened New Yorkers Give Up Pets, Shelters Turn Them Away
The affordability crisis in New York City has expanded its reach to a new and perhaps surprising corner of urban life: city animal shelters that are overwhelmed with pets whose owners could no longer afford to keep them. Now, most people who bring in cats, dogs and other pets will be turned away, though the shelters will continue accepting animals that pose a threat to the public, need emergency medical care or are sent there by government agencies, the shelters said. The tipping point came last week when Rocky, an older dog, was surrendered to Animal Care Centers of New York City, which runs the public animal shelters in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, said Katy Hansen, the organization's director of communications. He became the 1,000th animal in the system. 'It's nonstop and no one can keep up,' Ms. Hansen said in an interview on Sunday at the Queens facility, where animals were doubled up in some kennels and crates and the air was thick with the smell of urine and excrement. The sheer number of animals surrendered to the organization had left its employees unsure of what to do. ' We can't adopt our way out,' she said, as the earsplitting sound of barking seemed to echo off the walls. 'I mean, unless we did a thousand adoptions this weekend, but that's pretty unrealistic. So what is it that we can do? I don't know. I think everyone's trying to figure it out.' Overcrowding at New York City's animal shelters has been a long-term problem. Last summer, the city opened the Queens shelter at a cost of $75 million, but it was quickly overburdened with new arrivals that far outpaced its 72-dog-bed capacity. On Sunday, it was housing 169 dogs. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Animal Care Centers of NYC not accepting pet surrenders due to record capacity
A record number of animals in New York City's shelter system has forced the city to stop taking in new dogs and cats. Animal Care Centers of NYC says they have more than 1,000 animals across their city shelters. "We have never had this many animals in our care before. This isn't a drill. This is a crisis," the ACC wrote in a social media post. As a result, they have suspended intake, meaning New Yorkers who want to give up their pets can no longer surrender them at an ACC shelter. "People are surrendering animals to the shelter. One out of every three animals surrendered is because of housing insecurity in New York City. And while our adoptions haven't decreased, they have been pretty flat," said Jessica Vaccaro, ACC Director of Placement. ACC is still taking in animals that require emergency medical care or pose a public safety risk. In a social media post, the ACC urged New Yorkers who are considering surrendering their pets to first ask family or friends for help, try to find a new home for your pet yourself, or try to figure out a way to keep your pet. More resources are available on the ACC's website at The ACC is asking the public for help through adoption, fostering and donations. They held a pop-up adoption event at 232 Varet St. in Bushwick, Brooklyn, on Saturday, and another is scheduled for the same location from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday. Adoption fees for large dogs and adult cats will be waived at that event. To learn more about fostering, visit For more information about adoption and donating, visit
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Over 80 dogs rescued from Brooklyn home after elderly woman's death
More than 80 dogs were rescued from a home in Brooklyn on Thursday after a 73-year-old woman was found dead inside the residence. Emergency crews were called to the house on East 66th Street in the Mill Basin neighbourhood around 7 a.m. following a report of an unresponsive woman. She was found on the ground floor and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another woman was found alive inside the home and was assessed by emergency medical personnel. Authorities later discovered dozens of dogs inside the house, prompting a large-scale animal rescue operation led by local animal care officials. Dogs found in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in Brooklyn As emergency responders began assessing the scene, they encountered a significant number of dogs inside the home, making it difficult to move through the building. Officials from the Animal Care Centers (ACC) of NYC said the interior was overcrowded, and the dogs were living in confined, unhygienic conditions. Many of the animals were visibly malnourished, with severe matting of fur, signs of untreated illness, and lack of access to clean food or water. Some were confined to cages or small spaces, while others roamed freely throughout the cluttered home. The scene was described by officials as a case of severe animal hoarding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo One dog gave birth during rescue Amid the rescue efforts, a female dog went into labour and gave birth as she was being removed from the home. ACC officials confirmed that the newborn puppies are under veterinary care and are being closely monitored along with their mother. The incident highlights the extent of neglect inside the residence, where unregulated breeding appears to have occurred. In total, 83 dogs were removed from the home, but officials believe the possibility remains that additional animals could still be inside or may have escaped. Search and assessment of the property are ongoing. Dogs moved to shelter in Queens The rescued dogs were transported to the ACC's shelter facility in Queens, where they are now receiving medical treatment, grooming, and evaluation for future adoption. The organisation has stated that many of the animals will need time to recover both physically and emotionally from the trauma they experienced. ACC staff and volunteers are working to stabilise their health before determining their adoptability. The shelter has issued a public appeal for assistance through donations, temporary foster homes, and adoption inquiries to help manage the sudden influx of animals. Investigation ongoing The cause of the 73-year-old woman's death is still under investigation by the New York City Police Department and the medical examiner's office. Authorities have not released the woman's identity or whether she was the owner of the dogs. Another woman who was found alive inside the home was treated on site, but no additional details have been provided. Investigators are now examining the conditions inside the house to determine if any laws were violated, including potential charges related to animal neglect or cruelty. The case remains open as officials continue to gather evidence and monitor the welfare of the rescued animals.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Heartbreak as 40 dogs are found living in their own filth stuffed inside closets and cupboards in cramped apartment
Animal rescue workers were shocked to discover more than 40 dogs in a filthy, crammed New York apartment, in what they said was one of the most 'heartbreaking' animal neglect cases they had ever seen. 'They've likely never touched grass, walked on a leash, or met a stranger,' said Animal Care Centers of NYC Director of Shelter Medicine Biana Tamimi. Rescuers from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Care Centers of NYC went to the home in Forest Hills, Queens last Thursday after receiving reports that the owner had been evicted from the property and had to surrender his pets. When they arrived at the seventh floor apartment, they found 48 dogs and puppies, all Belgian Malinois, living in deplorable conditions. Some were reportedly stuffed into closets and cupboards or crammed into small spaces with no fresh air or sunlight, the ACC said. Images shared by the animal shelter show about a dozen dogs squeezed into a tiny hallway. Three of the dogs had to be euthanised, according to officials, and rescue workers spent two days removing the dogs from the home. 'These dogs have reportedly lived in total confinement for their entire lives,' said Tara Mercado, ACC's director of behavior and shelter operations. 'We found full-grown Malinois hidden in cabinets and crammed behind furniture.' Rescuers went to the home in Forest Hills, Queens last Thursday after receiving reports that the owner had been evicted from the property Neighbours - who were unaware that there were so many dogs living in the property - said that the entire floor always had a bad smell and that the owner, who has not been named, would regularly toss animal faeces off his balcony. 'We always wondered, 'Why does it smell so bad,' one neighbour told the New York Post. 'We all assumed there were two or three dogs in there, we would never have imagined that they were that many, we never saw them ever, anywhere,' he added. Another neighbour claimed that she could always hear barking in the building and noted that her mother had seen the owner kick one of his pets. The owner is said to have worked at airport security and he was known to have a sniffing dog. Since their rescue, the ACC has issued an update on the dogs' condition. Images show the nervous pups looking confused as they wait in kennels to be treated by vets. The ACC says many of the dogs will require long-term care before they are ready to be adopted because they are believed to have had little socialization with humans. The heartbreaking animal neglect case comes after a British dog walker was discovered to have kept 11 pets in 'deplorable' conditions. Dog walker Hannah Critchlow kept the animals in a house described as being one of the worst ever seen by RSPCA officers. Pictures show the floors inside the property, on Bourne Street, Peterlee, County Durham, completely covered in excrement and rubbish. An RSPCA officer described having to hold her breath because she could not stand staying in the 'thick smell' in the rooms. Two of the dogs were staying there while their owners were on holiday while others were being fostered by her on behalf of an animal charity. Some were left so ill after staying with her that they required treatment from a vet. Critchlow, 30, who a ran a business called UpDog Walking, Training & Behaviour, has now been banned from keeping animals for 12 months.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
40 Dogs Rescued From NYC Apartment Were Found 'Inside Closets And Cupboards'
Dozens of dogs were rescued after being found living in 'total confinement for their entire lives,' inside a New York City apartment, allegedly never setting foot outside, the Animal Care Centers (ACC) of NYC announced Friday. The ACC's rescue operation in coordination with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) found dogs ranging from young puppies to fully grown adults packed in tight spaces, according to the release. Some were discovered inside closets and cupboards with no fresh air. ACC's Tara Mercado said the dogs allegedly 'lived in total confinement for their entire lives.' 'We found full-grown Malinois hidden in cabinets and crammed behind furniture,' Mercado said. Police officials in Queens told the New York Post that the dog owner had been evicted and a criminal investigation has been opened. Neighbors told the outlet that the dogs were all living on the seventh floor of an apartment building and observed the owner frequently tossing feces off his balcony. 'It always smells like that here and I always hear them barking, barking, and he throws poop out of his balcony,' neighbor Natalia Ruales told the outlet. 'As far as I know, as we all know, he neglects his dogs. ... If he takes them out in the elevator, it smells so bad, they pee on the staircase.' The dogs were evaluated following their rescue, but medical and behavioral experts determined that they were 'extremely fearful, under socialized, and in need of long-term behavioral support.' 'They've likely never touched grass, walked on a leash, or met a stranger,' ACC's Dr. Biana Tamimi said in the release. 'Every new sound, every human interaction, is overwhelming. But we're already seeing glimmers of curiosity — and that gives us hope.' Toddler Who Wandered Miles From Home, Spent Night In Desert Saved By Very Good Dog Dogs Have Love Languages, Too. Here's What They Are And How To Figure Out Your Pet's. 13 Changes Veterinarians Would Never Ignore In Their Dogs
