October 14, 2009
Dr. Thomas Farley
Commissioner
NYC Department of Health (DOH)
125 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013
Re: Animal Care and Control (ACC)
Dear Dr. Farley,
Welcome to the DOH. Few people were able to attend the October 9th ACC Board Meeting. It was scheduled for
the Friday before a major holiday weekend. But many volunteers, rescuers, and other friends of ACC animals
eagerly awaited word of what transpired.
The news was not encouraging. Given the rosy presentations, anyone attending that meeting would have thought
that all was well with the ACC. But those familiar with the ACC know that picture is misleading.
Your arrival comes at a critical juncture for the ACC. A new Executive Director must be appointed. Also, a court
recently ruled that the DOH and ACC must abide by a prior 2002 order to provide two more shelters. (The plaintiffs'
complaint outlined the conditions suffered by the City's homeless animals in the ACC shelter system.) Strangely, on
October 9th, nary a word was breathed about that court order. And the DOH continues to reduce the ACC’s already
meager budget.
The care of homeless pets is not a simple budget issue, Dr. Farley. It is a moral one. Under your leadership, the
DOH can do the right thing – by providing proper leadership, support, funding, and shelter facilities* for the ACC
animals.
Dr. Farley, we urge that the DOH and ACC start by being honest with the public. The ACC is not on the road to "no
kill" … not as long as it continues to euthanize thousands of adoptable animals, claiming they are “diseased” (their
“disease” being a cold/flu virus they acquire at the ACC), or have “temperament” issues (a result of unprofessionally
administered “behavior” evaluations). Nor will the ACC ever be a “no kill” shelter as long as it has inadequate cage
space and an endless stream of animals churned out by an uncaring public.
The ACC cannot adopt or rescue its way out of euthanizing thousands of homeless animals. Accordingly, we
implore you to undertake a dramatic reformation of the ACC:
(1) Find a new ACC Executive Director with a proven track record of skilled management and leadership of a
municipal shelter, who has demonstrated success in partnering with the public to dramatically increase spay/neuter,
and has the political and PR savvy to secure dramatically increased funding for the ACC.
(2) Appoint new Directors to the ACC Board -- qualified candidates (including philanthropists who donate to
animal rescue organizations) nominated by the City's animal rescue community. No more armchair directors --
selected for their willingness to abide by the status quo. Just ask your current directors the following questions:
“Who of you has made a surprise visit to an ACC shelter on a major holiday, or in the early morning or evening, to
view shelter conditions and staffing when the public is not allowed in? “
“How often do you visit any ACC shelter?”
“Have you ever witnessed a euthanasia session at one of the Shelters, personally viewing the line of dogs, cats,
kittens and puppies being put down?”
“As individual Directors, how have you tried to secure needed funding for the ACC and to locate two more shelters? “
(3) Invite comments from knowledgeable persons (volunteers, rescuers, current and former ACC staff) about
problems in the DOH personnel’s oversight of the ACC.
Dr. Farley, you have a unique opportunity to create a new template for the ACC and DOH. You have volunteers,
rescuers, and animal lovers on standby who want nothing more than to help save these animals. Many ACC staff
members are equally passionate about that goal.
We are all waiting for the right leadership.
*/ The DOH provides woefully designed shelters … jerry-rigged from old buildings located in unsavory parts of the
City. By happenstance, the Manhattan shelter has recently seen its East Harlem neighborhood gentrify around it.
But the HVAC system being installed there (the building is approaching its one-year anniversary of being “under
construction”) will not eliminate the URI that afflicts every animal. The floor plan is simply wrong for a shelter. The
Brooklyn shelter (also poor floor plan and no new HVAC) has the added problems of being in a high-homicide rate
area and inconvenient to public transportation. We hear that an abandoned public school might be the new Bronx
shelter. We understand it’s also located in an undesirable neighborhood. Finally, Queens, a “city” of over 2.2 million
people, remains without even the prospect of a shelter.
SIGNED:
Dr. Thomas Farley
Commissioner
NYC Department of Health (DOH)
125 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013
Re: Animal Care and Control (ACC)
Dear Dr. Farley,
Welcome to the DOH. Few people were able to attend the October 9th ACC Board Meeting. It was scheduled for
the Friday before a major holiday weekend. But many volunteers, rescuers, and other friends of ACC animals
eagerly awaited word of what transpired.
The news was not encouraging. Given the rosy presentations, anyone attending that meeting would have thought
that all was well with the ACC. But those familiar with the ACC know that picture is misleading.
Your arrival comes at a critical juncture for the ACC. A new Executive Director must be appointed. Also, a court
recently ruled that the DOH and ACC must abide by a prior 2002 order to provide two more shelters. (The plaintiffs'
complaint outlined the conditions suffered by the City's homeless animals in the ACC shelter system.) Strangely, on
October 9th, nary a word was breathed about that court order. And the DOH continues to reduce the ACC’s already
meager budget.
The care of homeless pets is not a simple budget issue, Dr. Farley. It is a moral one. Under your leadership, the
DOH can do the right thing – by providing proper leadership, support, funding, and shelter facilities* for the ACC
animals.
Dr. Farley, we urge that the DOH and ACC start by being honest with the public. The ACC is not on the road to "no
kill" … not as long as it continues to euthanize thousands of adoptable animals, claiming they are “diseased” (their
“disease” being a cold/flu virus they acquire at the ACC), or have “temperament” issues (a result of unprofessionally
administered “behavior” evaluations). Nor will the ACC ever be a “no kill” shelter as long as it has inadequate cage
space and an endless stream of animals churned out by an uncaring public.
The ACC cannot adopt or rescue its way out of euthanizing thousands of homeless animals. Accordingly, we
implore you to undertake a dramatic reformation of the ACC:
(1) Find a new ACC Executive Director with a proven track record of skilled management and leadership of a
municipal shelter, who has demonstrated success in partnering with the public to dramatically increase spay/neuter,
and has the political and PR savvy to secure dramatically increased funding for the ACC.
(2) Appoint new Directors to the ACC Board -- qualified candidates (including philanthropists who donate to
animal rescue organizations) nominated by the City's animal rescue community. No more armchair directors --
selected for their willingness to abide by the status quo. Just ask your current directors the following questions:
“Who of you has made a surprise visit to an ACC shelter on a major holiday, or in the early morning or evening, to
view shelter conditions and staffing when the public is not allowed in? “
“How often do you visit any ACC shelter?”
“Have you ever witnessed a euthanasia session at one of the Shelters, personally viewing the line of dogs, cats,
kittens and puppies being put down?”
“As individual Directors, how have you tried to secure needed funding for the ACC and to locate two more shelters? “
(3) Invite comments from knowledgeable persons (volunteers, rescuers, current and former ACC staff) about
problems in the DOH personnel’s oversight of the ACC.
Dr. Farley, you have a unique opportunity to create a new template for the ACC and DOH. You have volunteers,
rescuers, and animal lovers on standby who want nothing more than to help save these animals. Many ACC staff
members are equally passionate about that goal.
We are all waiting for the right leadership.
*/ The DOH provides woefully designed shelters … jerry-rigged from old buildings located in unsavory parts of the
City. By happenstance, the Manhattan shelter has recently seen its East Harlem neighborhood gentrify around it.
But the HVAC system being installed there (the building is approaching its one-year anniversary of being “under
construction”) will not eliminate the URI that afflicts every animal. The floor plan is simply wrong for a shelter. The
Brooklyn shelter (also poor floor plan and no new HVAC) has the added problems of being in a high-homicide rate
area and inconvenient to public transportation. We hear that an abandoned public school might be the new Bronx
shelter. We understand it’s also located in an undesirable neighborhood. Finally, Queens, a “city” of over 2.2 million
people, remains without even the prospect of a shelter.
SIGNED:
| Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC) ShelterReform.org: Everything you ever wanted to know about the AC&C, but were afraid to ask. |
