Some stray dogs and cats may be on death row at the Brooklyn animal shelter, 2336 Linden Boulevard in East New York, but they will soon large for a few days before the Grim Reaper comes knocking at ehri cage.
That after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week his administration is pumping $27.3 million into the facility. In addition, the city is allocating $60 million to build a new animal shelter in the Bronx.
“Our animal shelters deliver services to upwards of 30,000 animals. These two new facilities in the Bronx and Brooklyn will build upon the City’s record 93% placement rate 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 de Blasio.
In Brooklyn, the money will go towards a full renovation of the existing shelter, including a new, two-story building and reconfigured parking lot. Additionally, the state-of-the-art facility will add a new adoption area, additional space for animals, workstations for staff and improved adoption spaces for dogs, cats and rabbits. The renovation is targeted for a 2022 completion date.
Although the city’s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) owns the site, the non-profit Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is contracted to run it as well as all the city’s animal shelters. Other locations include one in Manhattan and Staten Island; and receiving centers in Queens and the Bronx.
ACC Spokesperson Katy Hansen said the city takes in all animal species including cows, goats, lizards, birds and snakes, but only adopts out dogs, cats and rabbits.
“We take in between 30,000 and 35,000 animals a year, and we are a known open admissions shelter. In 2017, we had a 93.2 (adoption) placement rate for dogs and cats with a 100 percent placement for rabbit,” said Hansen, adding the problem with dogs and cats are some are sick and/or carry contagious diseases so they must be euthanized.
“These numbers get lower and lower every year,” she said.
Hansen said the ACC prevented 730 animals from coming into the shelter through providing services and resources designed to keep families and their pets together, and efforts to mitigate pet surrender in the first place.
DOHMH Spokesperson Julien Martinez said the 2017 data on how many animals were euthanized last year has not been finalized yet.
The current animal population at the Brooklyn shelter is three birds, 85 cats, 87 dogs, 43 kittens, two puppies, 15 rabbits, and one chinchilla.
“As a proud champion of animal welfare, I am truly pleased to see the City’s expanded investment in shelter facilities that will improve our care of our four-legged friends,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “The center in East New York, which has been in long need of upgrades, will benefit from an estimated $27.3 million in renovation funds that will expand our adoption capacity and allow us to care for more animals. My administration has helped families across Brooklyn find pets through our shelter system, and the investments by DOHMH and ACC will extend our shared capacity to find countless more ‘forever homes’ across our borough.”
State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetowne, Ocean Hill) also commended the DOHMH, the ACC and the de Blasio administration in general, for their commitment to the optimum welfare of animals.
“This efficient system will be beneficial for the animals, as well as prospective families in every borough,” said Persaud.
