WHAT'S NEXT

Increase Funding at New York City Animal Care and Control
  1. Signatures
    784 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. city councilman (+ 11 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • city councilman (Bill De Blasio)
      • commissioner (Patrick Nolan)
      • commissioner (Adrian Benepe)
      • commissioner (Jay Kuhlman)
      • commissioner (John MB O'Connor)
      • Mayor (Michael Bloomberg)
      • Deputy Mayor (Linda Gibbs)
      • Commissioner (Thomas Farley)
      • Assistant Commissioner (Edgar Butts)
      • city coucilwoman (Darlene Mealy)
      • commissioner (Bruce Doniger)
      • city councilwoman (Maria Del Carmen Arroyo)
  2. Created By
    Ledy VanKavage
    Collinsville, IL
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Aug 26, 2011

New York City has one of the lowest per capita rates in the nation for funding animal  control: 85 cents per resident, compared to the national recommendation of $4 to $7 per capita. To make matters worse, earlier this year, the city slashed Animal Care and Control's budget by $1.5 million, leading to critical programs being cut. 

There was a huge public outcry, including hundreds of Change.org members. Local animal welfare organizations, including Animal Care and Control, the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and the ASPCA all lobbied city officials to reverse the decision and invest in helping homeless pets.

After several months, Mayor Bloomberg and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn agreed to raise funding levels to a 77 percent increase over the current budget by July 2014. They've also agreed to support much-needed programs to improve the shelter system in NYC.

Recent allegations of neglect have been made against NYC's shelter system. An ABC News video shows footage of shelter dogs lying on bedding soaked with urine and feces, flithy cages, and unwholesome food for many of the pets housed there.

New York City is miserly when it comes to funding animal services. Indeed, it has one of the lowest per capita rates in the nation for animal  control -- 85 cents per resident. National humane/animal control organizations recommend funding at a 4 to 7 dollar per capita level.

CACC is a nonprofit. However, the Board that oversees CACC consists of city commissioners and folks appointed by Mayor Bloomberg. Apparently their job is to protect the Mayor's interests, not advocate for the pets housed at the shelter.

The city recently slashed CACC's budget by $1.5 million, causing several key programs, like reuniting lost pets with their owners and saving strays from the city streets, to be cut. Ask officials to increase funding and restore CACC's operating budget.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Please Restore Funding for NYCACC To Enhance Public Safety

Greetings,

I urge you to restore funding for New York City Animal Care and Control to its previous level, so they can continue providing critical services to the city.

As seen on the ABC News, the conditions and standards within the New York City shelter system are appalling. It is an embarrassment to NYC and the Mayor.

New York is miserly in the amount of money it spends on animal services. Only approximately 85 cents per person is allocated, while national animal control organizations suggest that $4-$7 per capita should be spent on these important public safety services.

Again, please restore the funding to improve the conditions for pets housed at the shelter and restore full service animal shelters to all districts.

Thank you for your consideration in this important public safety matter.

[Your name]

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