The Tragedy of Cat and Dog Overpopulation in New York City

.... in the wealthiest city in the world!

NYC is a city of crises, and its residents mostly accept it as normal.  Crime, politics, wars, celebrities – they all compete for media attention, and they get it.  Exacerbated by the pending election and the mayoral indictment, all the oxygen is sucked out of the room leaving space for little else.  The one crisis that is continually ignored in NYC is the overpopulation of cats and dogs, which is slowly evolving into something so serious that it is competing with underdeveloped countries that ignore their homeless animal population.   

Animal rescuers strapped for funds who do the life-saving work, which is the government’s responsibility, are mostly ignored by the City.  The city pound – Animal Care Center (ACC) – is packed to the rafters with animal drop-offs and ends up euthanizing thousands of animals.  

Yet the dichotomy here is that at least half the households in NYC have loving and indulged pets whose caregivers spend more on special food, treats, and toys than any place else.  It’s a classic Tale of Two Cities – the haves and the have-nots – in the wealthiest city in the world.  

The NYC Council Health Committee, which on paper oversees the Animal Care Center, originally scheduled a hearing in June entitled:  "Oversight - Animal Care Center and the Shelter Capacity Crisis."  Instead, it was deferred and the new hearing on September 13^th was entitled “Oversight - The State of Animal Rescue in New York City." 

Why the shift?  Overpopulation is at the core of both issues, which are equally important and very much related, but it seems that an effort was made to tamp down any criticism of the ACC and to deter open and honest discussions with the public.  At the hearing animal rescuers had their say, providing valuable testimony.  It remains to be seen if anything will be done to help them - or if it was just a naïve, but hopeful exercise in futility.  The conditions and lack of oversight of the ACC took a back seat.  

A few days after this questionable and insincere hearing, on September 16^th , Crain’s NY Business published an article called “New York’s Non-Profit Shadow Government.” It discussed how “Many of these organizations operate with little public scrutiny even as they control billions of dollars in taxpayer money under contracts that span decades. They amount to a sort of shadow government, providing services more typically associated with the public sector but with structures that can't be easily reformed by lawmakers, and leaders who can't be voted out of office.”   Further: “The City is terrible at oversight.” 

NYC’s Animal Care Center was on the list with a 34-year City contract worth $1.86 billion.  This substantial sum should be used to address and fix these issues adequately - but without oversight and creative thinking, the status quo is likely to continue for at least another 34 years.  

The need for an independent oversight committee of the ACC is paramount, along with an independent management consultant – an expert in animal sheltering to provide an evaluation of ACC programs and practices and recommend solutions to improve their performance, efficiency, operations, and transparency.  

NYC must figure out how to provide free/low-cost spay/neuter for everyone’s pets – regardless of income.   This could be done through a public/private partnership with local vets who would get tax relief; a lump sum from the City for widespread spay/neuter, funding from Council Members’ discretionary funds to organize spay/neuter days, or a huge grant from one of the many very wealthy residents - and let's not forget Section 17-812 Animal Population Control Fund — which needs public transparency and scrutiny.    Whatever the direction – it needs to be done immediately.  There is no time to plan and build spay/neuter clinics in each borough.  As we have seen with the animal shelters promised in Queens and Bronx, they will take decades to build.  This is an emergency.  

In conjunction with this, there must be related humane education and a law mandating spay/neuter perhaps with a sunset clause until this dire situation is under control.  

Additionally, funding must go to rescuers who do the City’s dirty work of TNR (trap, neuter, and return) and rescuing healthy animals from the ACC, so they are not needlessly killed simply because of an incompetent system. Finally, we need legislation that will compel landlords to allow pets in housing.  The most common reason given for dumping animals at the ACC is that the landlord will not allow pets.

Is the City Council and/or City Hall up to this task?  Or will they continue to pay lip service and do nothing? Will our tragic Tale of Two Cities continue as beautiful, sensitive,  and precious cats and dogs starve and suffer on the streets in this city of animal lovers and vast resources?  That $1.86 billion can and must be used immediately to end this tragedy. 

After decades of mostly inaction, we need legislators and a mayor who cares. 

POSTSCRIPT: In the words of Senator Elizabeth Warren - “We don’t win what we don’t fight for.” Please take her words to heart. Join the fight for our innocent and helpless cats and dogs. Liking posts, emojis, and sadness do not work. Our Council Members have the power to make positive change. Call them.