ADOPTION CRISIS: WHAT IS HAPPENING

Before the pandemic, the live release rate at Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) was hovering around 92%. That means that over 90% of all of the animals in ACC’s charge found loving and responsible homes. ACC takes in over 30,000 dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals every single year. That means that more than 27,000 animals that were surrendered or found as a stray made their way into a new home. According to Best Friends Animal Society, that means that ACC was a no-kill shelter. Then the pandemic ended and everything changed for the worst; not just for ACC, but for municipal shelters in major metro areas across the country.

During the pandemic, you could hear cries of joy and celebration as municipal shelters across the country were emptied, en masse, by people who wanted to have a companion as we were locked into our homes. Rescues and shelters alike sent out email blasts extolling adopters across the nation for bringing more animals into loving and responsible homes, essentially emptying out facilities of their charges.

Once the pandemic ended, that wonderful thing known as “the human condition” reared its ugly head. As workers were ordered back to their cubicles, endless amounts of animals were returned to the very facilities they were adopted from. Most cited that they didn’t feel comfortable leaving a dog or cat at home alone during the day while they were at work. Many others stated that they simply didn’t understand what they were getting themselves into before they adopted as they were desperate for companionship during the lockdowns. Either way, what these people did was reprehensible on every level I can possibly think of.  

Taking a former shelter dog or cat into a home for more than a year, enjoying their companionship and love to only thank them by returning them to the very prison you sprung them from is one of the most disgusting and selfish things I have ever bore witness to in my life. And I have seen A LOT of horrific things in my 48 years on this Earth. But that is exactly what happened once people were allowed to congregate and return to their offices again. Sadly, the return rate skyrocketed by percentages you cannot even begin to fathom once the lockdowns were over. And that was only the beginning of the problem we are facing today. As an example, last week, ACC suspended canine intake at their various locations due to severe overcapacity issues. That means ACC, despite lining their hallways with cages to compensate for larger populations, is full and can legally no longer take in canine surrenders until they lift the suspension. 

But before I get too deep into this, there are some things you need to understand about municipal shelters, and why humane euthanization is happening in such high volumes again. And given the issues with ACC right now, I am going to use them as the example to illustrate everything. First off, so we are clear, ACC is contracted by the New York City Department of Health and Human Services to care for New York City’s animals. As such, ACC is required by law to take in every animal that shows up on their doorstep. Now that leads to the heart of the issue for what is happening at ACC right now. A municipal shelter only has so much space. That space is paid for by the municipality and there is a set budget, usually with some semblance of a buffer for emergencies, like a natural disaster when animals end up being taken to shelters en masse. However, that budget buffer only lasts so long. Especially in an economically challenged environment where people are surrendering their animals left and right because they can no longer afford to feed their pets, veterinary care, and more.

That means that ACC is going to keep hitting its maximum capacity threshold because there are so many surrenders. But, again, there is only so much space that is available. And when capacity is reached, sadly, ACC has no choice but to humanely euthanize for space. That is the contractual obligation they must abide by according to the NYC Department of Health and Human Services. It is also the law in the city. No, I don’t think that is ok. No caring human would. However, that doesn’t mean that you cannot appreciate the difficult place that ACC has been put in by having to make very difficult choices to euthanize to free up space. No, it isn’t the right thing to do, but what other choice is there for a municipal shelter? I know a lot of people at ACC personally and professionally. I can tell you without any doubt in my mind that none of these people who work or volunteer at ACC want to euthanize an animal. Especially a perfectly good dog or cat, just to make room for another stray or surrender. But that is what the law requires. To ignore that would lead to even larger problems.

So, what is the solution for ACC? Well, they are taking all of the right steps right now to try and get as many animals into new, loving and responsible homes. ACC is heavily promoting not only adoptions, but also foster programs, they have shut down canine intake and are also offering alternative solutions to those seeking to surrender. Those solutions include free veterinary care, food from the ACC pantry that they stock up on to help adopters, and even rental assistance help through the city’s Human Resources Administration. In other words, ACC is doing everything they are legally allowed to do to help bring this crisis to a close. 

I know everyone looks to demonize someone else for their perceived crimes. Especially jurying by all of the negative and threatening posts we are seeing all over social media and the like. However, the slamming of ACC is just not right. Do they make mistakes? Yes. Don’t we all? Yes. All these naysayers and people going against ACC are doing is turning off potential adopters. After all, who wants to adopt from a place that is being described as “hell for animals” or “the place where you go to die?” No one. And therein lies the problem. As well intended as the protesters of ACC are, they are actually creating a larger problem. ACC staff are working their proverbial tails off to try and resolve this situation against some pretty heavy headwinds. Now I think our readers know me well enough to know I always call out the troublemakers and those who seek to do our furrever ones harm. That is not the case here. ACC is doing the right thing.

Rather than lead with hate and anger, wouldn’t it be better for our furrever ones to support ACC and help them resolve this crisis before more lives are lost?  

To adopt, foster, volunteer or donate at Animal Care Centers of NYC, please visit NYCACC.org