| This is an excerpt from the City Council report on the Center for Animal Care and Control following its eight-month investigation. To see the complete report click here Despite the mutual benefits the ASPCA and the City initially derived from these contracts, the ASPCA's relationship with City government in relation to its animal care and control responsibilities quickly became contentious. In the early 1980's the tension was fueled by the ASPCA's allegations that the City refused to pay the actual cost of providing animal care and control services. The relationship worsened in 1985, when the City refused to pay $250,000 in overdue payment increases. This led the ASPCA to threaten to close its Brooklyn Shelter, pull its ambulances off the street, and fire approximately 80 employees.[8] Although this skirmish was settled, the City's worsening fiscal condition in 1991 led DOH to cut the amount of the ASPCA's animal care and control contract by approximately 25%, from $5.05 million to $3.65 million.[9] At the time, the ASPCA's Chief Financial Officer, stated that "[i]n the long run, animals on the street will suffer. They may die--and not a very humane death."[10] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 / Mark Mooney, "The Warp and Woof of Politics," UPI, Regional News, New York Metro/New York, AM Cycle, October 31, 1985. 11 / William Bunch, "Animal Society Begs for Funds; Says Budget Cuts Mean City Will Go to the Dogs," Newsday, City Edition, July 18, 1991, p. 4. 12 / Ibid. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC) ShelterReform.org: Everything you ever wanted to know about the AC&C, but were afraid to ask. |
