The following is the complete text of a recent letter by the NYC Acting Health Commissioner responding to a citizen who complained of the City's failure to adequately provide humane services for homeless animals.

[seal]
THE CITY OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Rudolph W. Giuliani
Mayor

Benjainin Mojica, M.D., M.P.H.
Acting Commissioner

September 26, 1997

Ms. Carrie Rosenblatt
162 Woodruff Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11226

Dear Ms. Rosenblatt:

I am writing in response to your concern about homeless animals in New York City and about the CACC's role in addressing this serious problem. I understand that you have been in communication with the Mayor's Office and other City offices regarding this issue. Your most recent letter has been forwarded to me for response.

As you know, just two and a half years ago, the Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC) was created to take over what everyone agrees was a very troubled animal population control program. In this brief period, the CACC has exceeded the Department of Health's expectations all program areas, but most notably by decreasing the rate of euthanasia and increasing rates of adoption directly to the public.

The euthanasia rate for the first quarter of 1997 was very slightly higher, 1%, than 1996, but w lower than rates for the same period in 1996 and 1994, the last year the ASPCA provided such services under contract with the city. Adoption from the CACC shelters by the public was up significantly in each of its two years of existence. This increase does not reflect animals selected from the shelters by the ASPCA and North Shore Animal League who then adopt these animals out to the public through their own facilities.

Capital and Programmatic Improvements

The City has begun a renovation project for the two animal shelters in need of significant physical improvement, those in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The projects will upgrade plant and facilities and significantly enhance customer services. Among the planned improvements are state of the art boarding facilities, which will greatly improve sanitary conditions and noise levels in the shelters, enhancing the living conditions of the animals; and modernization of the medical facilities, including plans for a spay/neuter clinic.

Also included in the renovations are necessary maintenance improvements like a new ventilation system and a new roof. Renovation of the Brooklyn site is underway and work on the Manhattan shelter will begin next year.

Chameleon, a computerized animal shelter management system, was installed in February. Animal intake, animal disposition and lost and found tracking are operational. Chameleon will also be customized to provide critical information, on-line, to all Department of Health administered veterinary public health, communicable disease and laboratory services.

In January 1995 the CACC instituted its initial spay/neuter program. This program involved giving certificates to adopters that entitled them to a free spay/neuter surgery at one of the CACC's 50 private participating veterinarians. This program however, has experienced compliance problems due to lack of education about responsible ownership. Not all adopters follow through and have their newly adopted animal spayed or neutered. Only 50 percent made use of the free spay/neuter certificate. In recognition of this, the CACC has worked on requiring spaying/neutering before the adopter picks up his or her animal.

At the Manhattan shelter, the CACC has worked out an agreement with the Have-a-Heart spay/neuter clinic. A large percentage of healthy animals five months and over which are adopted from the Manhattan shelter are sent to the Have-a-Heart Spay/Neuter clinic for spay/neuter surgery. New owners can pick up their animals 12 to 24 hours later. Animals that are less than five months of age or animals that are sick and that cannot be spayed or neutered, are allowed to go home the same day they are adopted. However in these cases, the adopter must leave a $25.00 deposit, which is refunded upon proof of spay/neuter being done.

At the Brooklyn shelter the CACC now sends all animals that are over 5 months of age and not sick, and that have been adopted, to a private veterinarian who spay/neuters animals before an adopter picks up his or her pet. If the animal is too young or sick, spay/neuter may not be performed. At that time, a $25.00 deposit is collected which is refunded once spay/neuter has been completed. In addition, in Brooklyn the CACC veterinarian performs neutering on site on male cats prior to adopters picking up their animals.

in cases where the adopter does not have the adopted pet spayed or neutered by the date specified in the adoption contract, CACC's adoption department will then send the adopter a blue spay/neuter reminder card. If no response is received by the adoption department within two weeks from the time the spay/neuter certificate is sent to the adopter, that particular adoption agreement is sent to CACC's legal department which will contact the adopter. The legal department's follow up procedure has increased compliance with the spaying and neutering program. CACC's goal is to have 100% of all adopted animals, that are not sick or too young, spayed/neutered prior to pick up.

Thank you for writing and I hope this information eases your concerns about CACC's adoption and spay/neuter programs.

Sincerely,

/s/ Benjamin Mojica, M.D., M.P.H. [rubber stamped]
Acting Commissioner