Cats Were Euthanized In NYC Shelters Since May, In Contrast To Earlier Reports

Cats Were Euthanized In NYC Shelters Since May, In Contrast To Earlier Reports
Reporting by Diane West and Courtney Kistler
Written by Diane West exclusively for New York Tails Magazine

To adopt the cat pictured here ("Blessing") please see end of article.

A recent radio and online video where a representative of the city's shelter system implied no cats were euthanized for lack of space since this May caused an uproar among a number of shelter volunteers and others who allege they know otherwise.

The report, broadcast by 1010 WINS News Radio on July 26th and by video on the radio station's website, was publicly criticized in a July 28th posting on Craigslist by a person identifying themselves as a former New York City Animal Care and Control (AC&C) worker. Among other things, the writer - who wishes to remain anonymous - called the word 'space' "an interesting term", alleging it is misleading because many cats with health conditions generally considered treatable by the veterinary community were destroyed during the time period in question.

The post hit a nerve with many in the city's rescue community, some who have long harbored similar concerns. They quickly began emailing and phoning the AC&C, the media, and others criticizing the report.

Words such as 'healthy' and 'space' have become loaded terms in the context of euthanization rates at AC&C and the Mayor's Alliance of NYC's Animals' quest to make New York a 'no-kill' city. The Mayor's Alliance, an umbrella group for over 160 local rescue groups called Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) throughout the five boroughs, has long maintained New York City will be considered 'no kill' when "no New York City dog or cat of reasonable health and temperament is killed merely because he or she does not have a home". Read the full Mayor's Alliance no-kill mission and mission statement here: http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/aboutus/index.htm.

"The key word here is healthy," AC&C spokesman Richard Gentles, featured in the 1010 WINS report, said during a subsequent interview. "There are times that animals are on the euthanasia list for space; however they may have underlying health issues." He added: "Just because a cat is on the euthanasia list doesn't necessarily mean the cat was euthanized. Thankfully, many of our New Hope partners take the animals from us and get them adopted." Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor's Alliance also confirmed that 'no healthy cats' were euthanized during the three-month time period referred to by Mr. Gentles.

However, according to one AC&C volunteer seen on the online 1010 WINS video, animals who come into the system healthy get sicknesses, such as an upper respiratory infection commonly called "kennel cough."

New Hope is an AC&C program which utilizes the network of community-based animal rescue workers who are members of the Mayor's Alliance. The groups are contacted daily by email by the AC&C about animals which are at imminent risk of being euthanized unless they are adopted or "pulled" from the city shelter by a rescue group. Usually, "pulled" means the animal was placed in a foster home and is up for adoption through the rescue. The animal can then be listed on the rescue group's website or petfinder.com page.

The initial 1010 WINS online news video has since been updated to delete the phrase indicating cats have not been euthanized 'because of space' during the past three months. Additionally, the online video's reference to the AC&C giving away 'free cats', which was also criticized by several rescue groups as implying the adoption screening process would be less stringent, has been changed to say "the adoption fee for adult cats has been waived through Labor Day".

The Mayor's Alliance hosts many outdoor adoption events throughout the five boroughs on most weekends, giving potential adopters the chance to meet and greet cats and dogs in a fun, relaxed, festival-type atmosphere. The next adoption event will be on Saturday, August 1st from 9am to 5pm in Prospect Park's Bartel Pritchard Circle. For more information and future adoption events visit www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org.

Pictured Above: Blessing, an adult cat who lost her home after her elderly owner could no longer care for her, was one of the cats featured on the 1010 WINS video. She is available for adoption. A volunteer at the Manhattan Shelter wrote: Blessing (A819586), 7yrs, femaleAt Manhattan shelter since 7/11A volunteer wrote: Blessing lost her home when her 80 year old owner could no longer care for her. She is a very sweet girl with a sad look on her face who sits curled up on her blanket. She was tense when she first arrived, but now she is a mild mannered old gal, who loves to be pet and is easy to handle. She's also a big girl at 12.7 pounds! Sad, heartbreaking Blessing has been waiting for her forever home since July 11th.