Victory! NYC Homeless Pets Get Funding, Bill Proposed for Shelter Reform

Animal advocates and Change.org members scored a huge victory when they successfully lobbied  to increase the funding levels at New York City's Animal Care and Control. Let's face it, in this economy, that was not easy feat. 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. That's a huge win for the cats and the dogs, especially in a city that has boasted one of the lowest per capita rates in the nation for funding animal control.

To capitalize on that success, Council Member Jessica Lappin filed Intro. No 655, a humane bill that would help provide a safety net for New York City's animals. This legislation would codify trap, neuter, and return programs for feral cats, in addition to requiring all free-roaming owned cats to be sterilized to help reduce the homeless cat population.

Cats aren't the only species that would benefit from this legislation. It would also require facilities that receive lost, stray or homeless dogs and cats from the public to be maintained 7 days a week, 12 hours a day in boroughs of the city in which there is not a full-service shelter. Additionally, at least one of the full-service shelters would have to be open to the public for the purpose of receiving animals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Accessible hours are key in getting stray animals sheltered, lost pets returned to their owners and homeless animals adopted. Too many shelters are not open seven days a week, let alone twelve hours a day.

The  bill also increases transparency in shelter operations. It would require NYC Animal Care and Control to report the total number of animals accepted, sterilized, euthanized, adopted, returned to owners, and given to other shelters. They would also have to report the total number of animals picked up, by borough, so you could tell where the homeless animals are coming from and target the area for spay/neuter services. Staffing levels of the shelters would also have to be reported, which is often difficult information to attain.

These are numbers activists want to know, so they can judge whether progress is being made in achieving the goal of No More Homeless Pets. If Intro. 655 passes, it could be a catalyst for reporting standards and operating hours for animal shelters throughout the country.

The ASPCA and numerous other animal welfare organizations are supporting this bill.  Join the campaign and ask NYC council members to support this innovative humane legislation.

Photo Credit: Lynn Terry