The outpouring of support for the animals suffering in silence at Yonkers Animal Shelter (YAS) has been nothing short of extraordinary – and we are deeply grateful to every one of you who has stood with us!

As of today, October 19, 2025, we’ve reached 1,450 signatures, including 849 from Yonkers residents, 1,125 from fellow New Yorkers across surrounding communities like Eastchester, Larchmont, Scarsdale, Pelham, New Rochelle, Briarcliff, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, Orange County, Ulster County, Delaware County, and Manhattan, nearly all current YAS volunteers, 6 former volunteers, 12 YAS Rescue Partners, and 6 top YAS donors.

This data shows a powerful, growing coalition united by compassion and outrage – but we’re not stopping here. Help us get to our next milestone of 2,000 signatures to amplify our demands and force real change.

Every signature brings us closer to transforming YAS from a place of neglect into a beacon of hope, aligning with proven humane standards in NYC and Westchester County.

Updates since our last post: 

• The shelter has been closed or had delayed opening several times during public hours due to understaffing. 
• City officials have been visiting the shelter to review the conditions. 
• Cats are being posted on Petfinder - FINALLY! 

As our momentum builds, the heartbreak fueling this movement remains raw and urgent. Let’s revisit two haunting stories from 2021 that expose the systemic failures at YAS – stories that continue to echo in today’s crisis, where understaffing, blocked volunteer programs, and inadequate veterinary care persist despite our pleas.

A Cry for Hope: A Gentle Soul Betrayed by Yonkers Animal Shelter  

Hope arrived at YAS in July 2020 with a small tumor on her face and snout. A biopsy was inconclusive, and the shelter’s vet urgently recommended further treatment. But leadership did nothing. For five agonizing months, Hope languished in a cold kennel as her tumor grew, robbing her of the ability to eat comfortably and shattering her spirit. Emaciated, plagued by infections, and in excruciating pain, she was finally rescued in December 2020 – but it was too late. Within weeks in foster care, she passed away from her preventable suffering.

In May 2021, an advocate emailed Mayor Michael Spano, pleading: “This very young dog, wonderfully sweet by all accounts, languished in her kennel FOR MONTHS with NO action, medical care or advocacy for rescue.” Hope’s foster mom, who held her in her final moments, shared her anguish: “Hope is one of the toughest memories to relive. She was a loving and gentle spirit that should have had her whole life ahead of her… Her cries for help are a sound I will never forget. She looked in our eyes begging for help and comfort. And, because she was denied treatment at the appropriate time, our answer to her pleas was euthanasia… There were not enough sorry’s in the world that could make up for her being locked in a cold kennel. Her growing tumor, cries and failing frail body ignored. She deserved better. They stole her life and her hope.”

This isn’t isolated – it’s a pattern. With no meaningful reforms since our August 5, 2025, petition delivery – met only with rejection and threats from Corporate Counsel on September 9 – animals continue to pay the price.

Heartbreak and Rage: Justice for Chester  

In May 2021, Chester – a sweet, human-loving dog – was savagely beaten to death by a YAS employee after a careless open gate sparked a preventable incident. His back legs were shattered, and another staffer filmed the horror. Management ordered immediate euthanasia, not just for his injuries, but to cover it up. An email exposing this cruelty reached Mayor Spano, confirmed by the shelter manager and Commissioner Sansone – yet for over two months, no action was taken. The abuser wasn’t fired but reassigned to another department with higher pay. The filmer? Still employed.

This disgusting cover-up isn’t justice; it’s a betrayal. Chester deserved a loving home, not a brutal end to hide incompetence.

City of Yonkers, we’re done with excuses – especially when data shows YAS lags disastrously, with volunteer numbers 75% below similar NYS shelters, adoption returns climbing to 30% since July 2025 without behavioral support, and staffing ratios defying NYC’s 1:15 standard.

These stories aren’t ancient history – they’re the fire igniting our resolve. Hope and Chester’s suffering reflects the daily reality at YAS: dogs getting just 3-4 minutes of interaction daily (vs. ASV’s recommended 30), cats withdrawing into “feral” states from neglect (lengthening stays by 50+ days), and tragedies like the June 28, 2025, dog fight that killed an innocent animal due to overwhelm.

But here’s the inspiration: You are the change-makers! With 1,450 voices already roaring, imagine what 2,000 can achieve – pressuring Mayor Spano, Commissioner Moran, and Commissioner Sansone to implement our demands: a robust volunteer program (recruit 50+ with zero cost), onsite behaviorist (3 days/week) and vet (2 days/week), adequate staffing, and extended hours. We’ve seen it work elsewhere – onsite behaviorists reduce euthanasia by 40% statewide, and volunteers boost adoptions by 25%.

We won’t be intimidated or ignored. The city’s investigation into recent allegations is a start, but without transparency and action, it’s not enough. Let’s honor Hope, Chester, and every animal still trapped in despair by pushing to 2,000 signatures and beyond!

What You Can Do RIGHT NOW:

•    Sign the Petition: If you haven’t yet, add your voice here: https://chng.it/CYrGKqGXH5

•    Share Far and Wide: Post this update on social media, email friends, and tag animal lovers – every share could save a life!

•    Contact Decision-Makers: Flood their inboxes – Mayor Michael Spano (Mayor@yonkersny.gov | 914-377-6300) and Commissioner Carlos Moran (carlos.moran@yonkersny.gov | 917-377-6176) – demand accountability and reform.

•    Adopt or Foster: Visit https://yonkers.seamlessdocs.com/f/pet_adoption_app or connect with YAS Rescue Partners. Check available pets on Petfinder: https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NY63&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added

•    Spread Awareness: Many cats aren’t even listed – post on social media to help!

Together, we’re a tidal wave of compassion turning rage into reform. For Hope, for Chester, for every wagging tail and purring heart at YAS – sign, share, and let’s hit 2,000! Their lives depend on us.