Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA provides critical services, care, and resources for animals in need through adoption, fostering, veterinary and spay/neuter services and more. Read on for answers to commonly asked pet-related questions from NYC residents.
Programs & Services at the ASPCA
Suspected incidents of animal cruelty in New York City should be reported to the NYPD. If you live in NYC and need to report animal cruelty, please call 311. For crimes in progress, please dial 911. Abuse of any kind should be reported to the appropriate authorities immediately. Visit our Report Animal Cruelty page to learn more.
Pet Care & Well-Being
You may wish to contact the following veterinary clinics that provide 24-hour service:
Animal Medical Center
(212) 838-8100
510 E. 62nd Street, between FDR and York Aves.
Open 24 hours
Manhattan Veterinary Group
(212) 988-1000
240 East 80th, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
Open 24 hours
If you suspect your pet may have been poisoned or has ingested a toxic substance, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), a national telephone hotline, available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. It is staffed by veterinarians and board-certified veterinary toxicologists. A consultation fee may apply for this lifesaving service. The phone number is (888) 426-4435.
For pet transportation in New York City, you may wish to contact Pet Chauffeur at (212) 696-9744 or (866) PETRIDE. Mention that you were referred by the ASPCA and receive a 10-percent discount on your ride! The Pet Taxi also has been used by clients of the ASPCA; please call them at (718) 335-9665 for your pet ride.
Due to funding cuts by the Department of Health, Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is no longer able to pick up stray cats and dogs. If the animal is tame and you are able to provide transport, please visit this page for more information on suggested next steps.
Please exercise caution when interacting with an unfamiliar animal—do not approach any stray animal exhibiting odd behavior or signs of aggression. If the animal appears to be potentially dangerous or sick, please report it by calling 311.
If you’ve found a kitten outside, please use our online tool to determine the best steps to take.
Thank you for your concern about New York City’s community cat population. The ASPCA endorses Trap-Neuter-Return-Monitor (TNRM) as the only proven humane and effective method to manage community cat colonies. Click here to learn more about community cats and how you can support them.
Especially for Dog Parents
In New York City (and many other areas in the country), licensing your dog is the law. To apply for a dog license, visit the website of the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) or call 311 to reach the DOHMH’s Dog Licensing Unit. You may also obtain an application from a veterinarian, animal shelter or pet shop.
Please note, you can’t get your dog a license unless you have the paperwork to prove that he or she has received a rabies vaccine, so make sure you save all your pet’s veterinary records. The New York City Health Code requires every dog owner/walker to be able to produce proof of current dog license and rabies vaccination while in public—the easiest way to do this is to affix to your dog’s collar the vaccination tag from your vet and the city license tag you’ll receive in the mail from the DOHMH. Violation of these laws may result in fines.
In New York City, dogs must be on a leash when in public places. The leash cannot be longer than six feet. Failure to comply with the leash law can result in a ticket from authorized employees of New York City’s Departments of Health, Sanitation, or Parks and Recreation. Please call 311 to report an unleashed dog.
In December 2006, the New York City Board of Health approved legislation to formally allow supervised dogs to play unleashed in certain city parks between 9:00 P.M. and 9:00 A.M. Please visit the NYC Parks Department to view a list of parks, by borough, that participate in this program. This site also offers loads of valuable information for New York City dog owners, such as a listing of dog runs and when and where you can take your dog to the beach!
Local Laws & Services
Pet stores in New York City may sell any species of animal that is not expressly prohibited from ownership by federal, state or local law (please see the following FAQ for a link to a list of NYC’s forbidden species).
On December 15, 2024, a new state law went into effect, ending the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores across New York State. Additionally, New York City pet stores are not permitted to sell or give away guinea pigs as of April 2023. The city also prohibits the sale of animals from a residential dwelling. To report complaints and learn more about New York City’s updated pet store law, visit nyc.gov.
Complaints against retailers selling dogs, cats or rabbits should be submitted to the Office of the Attorney General.
Species that are considered wildlife or endangered are not permitted to be kept, possessed, harbored or sold in New York City. Ferrets, iguanas and tarantulas are among these species.
Article 161 (“Animals”) of the Health Code outlines exactly which species are forbidden. Please view this document to read the full list.
In 1978, New York State passed the Canine Waste Law (Section 1310 of the New York State Public Health Code) requiring city dog owners to scoop the poop. While most pet parents are responsible and do clean up after their pups, there are certain problem areas, usually on less densely populated streets.
To report such problem areas, please either call 311 or fill out this online form provided by the Department of Sanitation (DOS).
The DOS takes this problem seriously, writing hundreds of tickets to Canine Waste Law violators every year. However, if you have contacted the DOS several times and seen no improvement to the dog poop problem, consider contacting your community board and your representative on the New York City Council.
Complaints about barking dogs in New York City can be made to the Department of Environmental Protection at 311.
Please know that the ASPCA does not have certified wildlife rehabilitators on staff, nor do we have wildlife experts or a wildlife department.
Likewise, Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) will not remove raccoons or opossums from properties; however, it does accept pigeons, gulls, starlings, sparrows and squirrels at any of its facilities.
The following organizations in and near New York City will assist wildlife and/or offer resources:
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: (718) 482-4922
- Volunteers for Wildlife (Long Island): (631) 423-0982
- New York Herpetological Society (reptiles and amphibians): (212) 740-3580
- Wild Bird Fund (birds and mammals): (646) 306-2862
For animals found in city parks, please call Urban Park Rangers at (800) 201-PARK.
In some situations, it may be necessary to contract the services of a professional company that can remove nuisance animals from your residence. Humane services may be found by calling the organizations mentioned above, or by searching online. The ASPCA urges you to use only those services that offer responsible and humane treatment of animals.
For further information on this topic or a list of wildlife rehabilitators in the New York City area, please call 311.
We encourage pet owners who are no longer able to keep an animal in their care to look at alternative options for rehoming their pet, such as enlisting the support of a friend, neighbor or veterinarian, or reaching out to a shelter or rescue organization in their area as the staff can often provide advice and assistance. You may also wish to list your pet on sites like AdoptAPet.com or Home-Home.org to connect with people near you who are looking to adopt a companion animal and meet potential adopters to find a good home for your pet. Additional resources include Rehome by Adopt a Pet and Pet Rehomer.
Where possible, relinquishing your pet to a shelter should be a last resort. Most animal shelters operate at full capacity, and some may have a waiting list to accept an animal into their care. To find a shelter near you, you can visit the ASPCA’s Find a Shelter page and those located in New York City can also consider resources shared by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals or Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) Surrender Service. Please note that ACC and other shelters are not always able to accept owner surrenders, and there may be a waitlist or other process in place to manage the number of animals accepted.
