ASPCA Commends Mayor de Blasio for Providing Critical Funding to City Animal Shelters

NEW YORK—The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is commending Mayor Bill de Blasio for allocating a total of $10 million over the next two years to fund the establishment of two new city animal shelters. In his executive budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017 released earlier today, Mayor de Blasio proposed $2 million be allocated this year and $8 million the following year, to allow for the establishment of two full-service animal shelters in Queens and the Bronx, giving homeless animals across New York City access to life-saving services and the opportunity to be adopted into loving homes.

“This important funding will go a long way toward helping Animal Care Centers of NYC deliver a level of care and protection that New York City animals both need and deserve,” said Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the ASPCA. “In particular, this money may finally bring full-service shelters to the Bronx and Queens, dramatically improving the chances for local animals to get adopted and find safe and loving homes. As longtime supporters of ACC and the city's vulnerable animals, we thank the Mayor for including the funding in his executive budget.”

Currently in these two boroughs – home to nearly 3.6 million people – dogs and cats are taken in, but soon moved to other boroughs. This adds to the populations in those shelters, and diminishes the chances lost pets from Queens and the Bronx will ever find their way back home. The lack of full-service shelters also puts an obstacle in front of potential adopters in Queens and the Bronx, which is unacceptable given the lives at stake.

Over the last five years, the ASPCA has granted more than $8.2 million in funding to both ACC and the Alliance for NYC’s Animals, a coalition of more than 150 animal rescue groups and shelters working with ACC to help the city’s homeless pet population. The grant funding has supported efforts to increase adoptions, provide critical veterinary and wellness services, and offer vital services to pets and people in underserved communities.

“The ASPCA’s work with ACC over the past several years to drastically reduce euthanasia rates and increase adoption numbers demonstrate how much we can accomplish for New York City’s homeless animals through diligent work and effective collaboration,” added Bershadker. “We are grateful to Mayor de Blasio for recognizing the value of investing in our sheltering infrastructure and look forward to making the most of this opportunity to best protect animals across the city.”

To learn more about the ASPCA’s efforts to protect New York City’s animals, please visit www.aspca.org.