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New York Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Trouble-packed NYC animal shelters land another $1M in taxpayer funds — GOP's Sliwa slams as ‘drop in the bucket'
The city is dumping another $1 million into its troubled jam-packed animal-shelter system to hire and train 14 new staffers, City Hall said Friday. The Animal Care Centers of New York City — a nonprofit with a $1.4 billion contract to run the Big Apple's animal-shelter system for 34 years — recently announced it was suspending its intake of dogs and cats because of 'critical' overcrowding. The move came days after a Post expose revealed ongoing sickening conditions at ACC's new $75 million city-funded shelter in Queens. Advertisement 5 Anna Garguilo, an adoptions counselor with Charmy, 4, an Akita mix. Stephen Yang 'ACC's work to ensure no animal is left behind is essential to protecting animals across New York City, and our administration is proud to invest $1 million in additional funding to support the work ACC does and boost their capacity to better care for animals,' Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. 'I also urge New Yorkers looking for a pet addition to their families to adopt, so we can ensure that every animal can find a loving home.' Advertisement But GOP mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa slammed the funding announcement as a piecemeal solution to the larger problem of animal welfare in Gotham. 'The city has completely ignored animal welfare,' Sliwa wrote on X. 'Today's $1M for ACC is a drop in the bucket. ACC has a 34-year contract worth over $1B—and yet our shelters are overcrowded, surrenders are paused, and animals are suffering.' 5 New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa holds a campaign event outside of an Animal Care Center on 110th street in East Harlem in Manhattan. Stephen Yang 5 'ACC has a 34-year contract worth over $1B—and yet our shelters are overcrowded, surrenders are paused, and animals are suffering,' Sliwa said. Stephen Yang Advertisement The red-beret-wearing Republican, who shares an apartment with six rescue cats, earlier this week called for the city to end its contract with ACC and replace it with a city-run overhaul that would include a 'quasi-private public partnership' to shift the cost away from taxpayers. A new animal welfare agency would be created in the 'basement' of City Hall and all shelters would be kill-free and offer free spay and neuter programs under a Sliwa administration. The ACC has three active sites across the five boroughs with more than 1,000 animals in its care. 5 New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks at a press conference to announce that 200 rescues have been made through the NYPD's drone and enforcement operations targeting subway surfing on July 21, 2025 in New York City. Andrew Schwartz / Advertisement 5 A new animal welfare agency would be created in the 'basement' of City Hall and all shelters would be kill-free and offer free spay and neuter programs under a Sliwa administration. Stephen Yang While the ACC is mandated to have a location in each of the five boroughs, the Brooklyn location is currently closed till 2026 for renovations, and the Bronx resource center has been 'temporarily' closed since May. Another $92 million facility in The Bronx is still under construction even though it was slated to open in the spring. The ACC did not respond to a Post request for comment. Adams' campaign did not respond to a request for comment, either.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
40 Belgian Malinois Dogs Found Crammed into Cabinets and Closets of N.Y.C. Apartment During Rescue
In May, the ACC and ASPCA rescued 40 Belgian Malinois dogs from filthy, overcrowded conditions in a Queens, New York apartment Rescuers believe many of the dogs had never gone outside before they were removed from the apartment None of the dogs are currently available for adoption as they undergo medical evaluations and recovery Dozens of Belgian Malinois dogs are enjoying their first opportunity to touch grass after a shocking rescue. According to a May 9 release from the Animal Care Centers of New York City (ACC), the organization and ASPCA recently rescued 40 Belgian Malinois dogs from a "filthy, overcrowded" apartment in N.Y.C. Rescuers found the dogs crammed inside cabinets, closets, and other spaces "with no access to fresh air or sunlight." The ACC believes, per its release, that many of the rescued dogs, who range from fully grown adults to young puppies, had never been outside prior to their rescue. "These dogs have reportedly lived in total confinement for their entire lives," Tara Mercado, ACC's director of behavior and shelter operations, detailed in a statement. "We found full-grown Malinois hidden in cabinets and crammed behind furniture." Senior staff members from the ACC and ASPCA apartments removed the dogs from the apartment and brought them to shelter facilities to decompress and receive health checks. All of the dogs will be medically evaluated to determine their next steps. "They've likely never touched grass, walked on a leash, or met a stranger, Dr. Biana Tamimi, ACC's director of shelter medicine, said of the dogs. "Every new sound, every human interaction, is overwhelming. But we're already seeing glimmers of curiosity — and that gives us hope." According to the ACC's release, many of the Belgian Malinois dogs will require long-term care before they are ready to be adopted because they are fearful and undersocialized from their upbringing. The ACC needs help making room for this new influx of dogs, especially since their shelters are already overcapacity. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "We need help from the community," the ACC shared in a Facebook post about the Belgian Malinois rescue. "We are now at over 200 dogs in our Queens Care Center — with an additional 175 in our Manhattan and Staten Island Care Centers. We are currently running a fee-waived adoption special for all dogs over 40 lbs." The ACC and ASPCA are not handling this case alone; other animal lovers reached out to provide assistance before the ACC shared news of the rescue on social media. "Several breed-specific rescues have already offered their assistance in finding homes," Jessica Vacarro, ACC's director of placement, said. The release added that while the rescued dogs adjust to their new lives outside the crowded apartment, authorities are part of an ongoing investigation into how the pets ended up in those dire conditions. Read the original article on People
