Mayor de Blasio Announces $10 Million in Capital Funding for Two New Animal Shelters in Bronx and Queens

April 26, 2016

Largest investment in the animal shelter system since the City began operating them in the 1990s

NEW YORK––Mayor de Blasio today announced $10 million in capital funding for two new animal shelters in the Bronx and Queens, marking the largest investment in the animal shelter system since the City took ownership and began operation of the shelters in the 1990s.

“Our animal shelters deliver services to upwards of 35,000 animals. These two new shelters in Queens and in the Bronx – boroughs that combined see more than 14,000 cats and dogs– will increase the City’s bandwidth to ensure that all missing, homeless and abandoned animals within the city receive the care they need. These shelters also will offer direct adoption because we know how much New Yorkers love their pets, especially those in need of a home,” said Mayor de Blasio.

"Full-service shelters in Queens and the Bronx will allow Animal Care Centers of NYC to continue its incredible progress in providing humane care to the city's pets," said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. "ACC's euthanasia rate plummeted in 2015, while adoption rates rose by 17 percent. These data tell us we are moving in the right direction, and the Mayor's commitment will ensure that even more New York City pets find a forever home."

The capital funding is part of the de Blasio administration’s commitment to ensuring that missing, homeless and abandoned animals within the city receive the care and resources they need. The new $10 million in capital funding in the Executive Budget will enable the land acquisition and design necessary for the two new, state-of-the-art, full-service shelters in the Bronx and Queens. The capital funding includes $2 million in Fiscal Year 2017 for designing the new shelters and $8 million in Fiscal Year 2018 for land acquisition – marking the largest investment in the shelter system since the City took ownership and began operation of the shelters in the 1990s.

Currently, the administration contracts with the nonprofit Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) to operate three full-service animal shelters in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island, and two animal admissions centers in the Bronx and Queens. Full-service animal shelters are able to provide medical treatment for relinquished animals, house missing animals and offer direct animal adoptions. Operating with these three centers, the City delivers services to an estimated 35,000 animals. In 2014, ACC received 5,834 dogs and 9,238 cats from the Bronx and Queens combined. New shelters will not only provide extended program benefits that full-service shelters currently have, but will also enable adoptions in these boroughs.

In addition to the new $10 million in capital funding, the Mayor has previously announced the following investments:

• Added $258,000 in FY15 and FY16 each to expand ACC’s communications and fundraising capacity.
• Added $1.2 million for DOHMH in FY16, and $191k in FY17 and FY18 for sighting and scoping for two new full-service animal shelters in the Bronx and Queens.
• Added $3.5 million in capital funds for the Brooklyn shelter to upgrade the heating and ventilation system.
• Added $5 million in capital funds for the Manhattan shelter to convert underutilized garage to an adoption center.

"This $10 million investment is a great first step towards finally giving Queens and the Bronx the full service animal shelters that they need," said Council Member Paul Vallone. "I'm proud to have been at the forefront of this issue throughout my time in the Council. Going forward, we will continue working with the Mayor and all of the advocates until we finally see a shelter in every borough."

“ACC is thankful for the support of the Mayor and is committed to continued improvement of the entire organization. We welcome the opportunity to improve our services to all NYC residents with an additional two shelters in the Bronx and Queens, especially state-of-the-art facilities that address some of the inherent constraints of our current buildings,” said Risa Weinstock, Executive Director of Animal Care Centers of NYC.

“This important funding will go a long way towards helping ACC 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.”

"The Alliance for NYC's Animals is delighted and thanks the Mayor for including $10 million in his 2017 Executive Budget for the siting, design and land acquisition of full-service shelters in the Bronx and Queens.  This is a great first step in the effort to provide the residents and animals of the Bronx and Queens with access to adoptions' lost and found and other services and resources  which can only be provided by full-service shelters and to make NYC one of the best cities in the county for animals." said Jane Hoffman, President of the Alliance for NYC's Animals.