July 12, 2007
Adopt a Furry New Yorker!
During the summers, city shelters see a spike in unwanted pets, and this year is no different. NYC's Animal Care & Control is "taking in 85 cats and kittens a day - up from about 50 a day just a few months ago," according to the Daily News. Animal Care & Control is worried they will have to start euthanizing adoptable cats and dogs, because they are, as director Richard Gentiles says, "being inundated." From the News:
Unlike the ASPCA, Humane Society and other shelters, Animal Care and Control cannot turn away any animal brought into its three shelters or left on the street.The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals is trying to take in some pets, but there are just too many. The Alliance's Jackie Hoffman says, "People are turning in their pets because they want to go on vacation. Or they got puppies and kittens and never spayed or neutered them, and now they are unhappy with their behavior because they are going into heat."It is the only nonprofit organization that holds a contract with the city to handle its stray and unwanted animals - about 44,000 every year.
Here's information on how you can adopt from the Mayor's Alliance (the kitten photographed is one that was left at a shelter!). Even if you can't adopt a pet, consider donating, fostering, or volunteering at NYC Animal Care & Control or the Mayor's Alliance. Also, Animal Care & Control needs blankets and towels.
This Saturday is Broadway Barks, a cat and dog "adopt-a-thon" hosted by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, with many Broadway friends appearing, such as Angela Lansbury, David Hyde Pierce, Christine Ebersole and more (3:30-6:30PM at Schubert Alley). And Sunday, July 22, is the Brooklyn Animal Rescue Coalition's 3rd Annual BARC Cat Carnival and Block Party in Williamsburg.
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Don't you think you should've mentioned/introduced the person named Gentiles first before you wrote, "... as Gentiles says" in your first paragraph? It sure sounds ridiculous without knowing who that is!
FYI for anyone adopting a pet: No reason not to spay and neuter. The Humane Society on 59th Street will spay and neuter for free if you have a medicaid card. Even without medicaid, it's very inexpensive: $38 for a male cat, $48 for a female. Dogs start at $43, depending on their size.
I'm constantly amazed by people who don't spay/neuter their pets. What the fark is the problem? I actually thought it was more expensive then #2 suggests, as I paid much more. If it is indeed that cheap, then I'm truly disgusted. Get it done, what is the problem?
And if someone spouts "They need that money for food, not spaying" then don't get a goddamn pet in the first place, eh?
Rant over.
All animals from NYC Animal Care & Control are spayed/neutered before adoption.
To commenter #1: Please get a life. Or get a job. Or get laid. Or all three. Please.
I CAN HAS HOME?
Haha, disconnec, brilliant.
I wish I could adopt more pets, but I think two animals in a 1-bedroom apartment is the limit for my household.
seems like the city should be setting up a free spay/neuter service and promoting that. i think a lot of people are totally clueless about their pets (why is Fido so energetic lately? what's that funny smell?) and are more likely to, say, kick their cats on the street when they get randy not because they're cheapskates but because they don't even make the connection of what's causing the behavior.
The ASPCA offers FREE and low-cost spay and neuter services six days a week for pet owners who are residents of New York City's five boroughs.
Low income pet owners in New York City's five boroughs with proof of public assistance such as Welfare, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, Disability, Food Stamps, or Public Housing qualify. Unemployment does not qualify. If you do not have proof of public assistance, a $25 donation per animal is requested.
The ASPCA website has the schedule of spay/neuter clinic locations and more info on the "New York Services" page:
http://www.aspca.org
Or you can call for the schedule here:
(212) 876-7700 / Ext.4303
Sadly, although there seems to be less sentences starting with "and" recently, it appears that Jen has simply switched to using "or."