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AC&C RESCUER QUESTIONS
JANUARY 28, 2010 MEETING OF APPROVED AC&C RESCUERS
WITH THE AC&C AND MAYOR’S ALLIANCE
Representing the AC&C:
Risa Weinstock, Interim Executive Director (appointed 10/09)
Richard Gentles: Director of Administration
Dr. Stephanie Janezcko: Medical Director
Pam Ward: Brooklyn New Hope
Representing the Mayor’s Alliance
Jane Hoffman: Founder and President
[Jane Hoffman of the Mayor’s Alliance started with a PowerPoint presentation of the Mayor’s Alliance 10-year Strategic
Plan and Progress to achieve no-kill status for New York City by the year 2015. (Click here to see the Plan Report as of
2008.) Jane noted that in 2002 (the year before the Mayor’s Alliance commenced operations), the euthanasia rate at the
AC&C was 74%. Every year since then has seen a steady decrease in euthanasia. Jane projects that the AC&C’s 2009
numbers will show a 32% euthanasia rate.]
QUESTIONS PRESENTED TO JANE HOFFMAN
1. WHEN AND HOW CAN THE AC&C BECOME NO KILL? How will the AC&C be no-kill by 2015 with the number of
pitbulls and cats coming into the shelters? What is the plan, especially to do with all the pitbulls when so many
communities and housing facilities now ban the breed?
JANE: We need to keep in mind, that at the end of 2009 the projected euthanasia rate has been reduced to 4,520 for
dogs and under 10,000 for cats. This is from the total intake. Is that too many? Yes, but this is an amazing achievement on
your [rescuers’] part and the AC&C. Also the AC&C has adopted out over 8,000 and transferred out 17,000 animals.
Pitbulls: It is all about spay/neuter. The ASPCA did a spay/neuter [event] in the Fall [of 2009] and did 121 pit bulls for free in
one day. That is what we need to do. We have to increase our capacity to do spay/neuter.
AC&C, Richard Gentles and I went to testify at [NYC Council Member] Rosie Mendez’s hearing on the NYCHA [New York
City Housing Authority] policy. We put out, along with the ASPCA, a joint memo opposing it. We are working with owners to
get their dogs back and to try to find a way they can keep their animals. It was a real hit. There were 180 pitbulls that came
in to the AC&C since that policy was put in place. Some have been taken out by rescuers, some have been adopted, and a
good number have died, through only the fault of NYCHA, because they had homes.
Cats: got to spay/neuter and that is it.
2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A MAYOR’S ALLIANCE MEMBER? I have a 501c3, have experience pulling
ACC animals, submitted my Mayor’s Alliance Membership form 6 months ago, and have heard nothing further. Is it
because you’re allowing just pure breed rescue groups now?
JANE: At first we knew all the groups that were applying, but now we don’t really know the groups so we have extended the
amount of time they work with the AC&C to try to get to see what their track record working with New Hope is; for about 6
months. They must be partners with New Hope, and they must fill out our form. Because of the difficulties of doing
reporting for Maddie’s Fund -- remember we are gathering data from 106 groups including the ACC every month -- and we
have to work our way through that, so we let people in about once a year.
We try, in collaboration with the AC&C, to do site visits before accepting groups, not to rule anybody out, but to make sure
the animals are going to places that we know they will be well taken care of. This also allows us to find out what
improvement grants the groups may need.
So no, we don’t allow just pure breed rescue groups in; in fact we haven’t had one in a while. We would like more pure
breed rescuers.
3. We understand that as a 501c3 entity, the Alliance cannot be involved in political lobbying or any other type of political
activity. However, we'd like to know if the Alliance has ever considered using its influence and contacts at City Hall to push
for a separate agency to oversee the rescue and placement of homeless dogs and cats. That is, rather than having the
AC&C under the Dept. of Health, can the Alliance push for the creation of a separate entity, which we can call NYC Animal
Care and Adoption Agency, or a department within the Health Dept. which we can call Department of Animal Affairs with its
own budget and staff and with direct report to the Mayor?
JANE: I wish I had as much influence or contacts with City Hall as everybody thinks I do. I would love to see a separate
Department of Animal Services. We should get a lot of things, not just animal care and control. There is a lot of urban wild
animal issues, geese issues etc. I think there should be a separate department. Do I think it is going to happen? No. I
would like to see a separate department with a commissioner which can fight for their own budget line, but in this
economic environment I don’t think it is going to happening.
4. SPAY/NEUTER- Why can’t the Mayors Alliance recruit more NYC vets to offer low cost spay neuter? Wasn’t that part of
the Mayor’s Alliance agreement? Why can’t the Mayor’s Alliance give more Maddie’s Fund monies to the AC&C for their
BIG FIX PROGRAM?
JANE: We tried to get private vets to participate in Maddie’s Fund spay/neuter project. About the second year of the project
we told the Fund to take their money back if we can’t let the non-profits in. Why shouldn’t they be part of this group and
have their efforts be supported and reimbursed for surgeries of homed animals? I won that argument and the non-profits
are let in. The private vets were not chomping at the bit to participate in the program. The amount of money the Fund is
offering in Georgia was probably great, but in NYC, not so much. We have a core group of about 12 vets and probably
about 4 of these who are carrying the labor on this. Thank god for the ASPCA, the Humane Society, the Toby Project and
other nonprofit groups. We did work at first with NYC Veterinary Medical Association and then went beyond to individual
vets. A lot of vets do contribute individually.
There is no Big Fix any more.
5. How quickly must a rescuer pull an animal to ensure that it will NOT come down with URI – a hour, a few hours, a day,
2 days, how long?
JANE: Look at the First Alerts, and try to get the animal immediately.
DR. JANEZCKO: The honest answer is: the sooner the better. Because the longer they are in the shelter, the more likely
they are to get sick. Some animals may arrive sick, others can get sick in a day, others won’t be sick for several days after.
It’s different from animal to animal. So there is no magic number.
6. When will the promised rescuer website (to view SAFER tests) be up and running, and what are the reasons for the
delay? Almost a year ago, the Mayor's Alliance announced that they were creating a rescuer website on which all AC&C
SAFER tests would be posted. Having SAFERs accessible to rescuers is absolutely vital so dog rescuers can see how
the tests are conducted, because there is much controversy about how the SAFER tests are conducted at the AC&C and
the qualifications of employees who perform them.
JANE: I’m really thrilled to announce, this was not as easy as we thought it would be. The first thing we needed to do with
the support of the ASPCA that does the SAFER training. We had to wait until the employees chosen to do the SAFER
training went to training. It’s a two day training. Several went to training. It sorta like a road test. You have to submit three
tapes to Dr. Emily Weiss who developed [SAFER] to be certified. You can do assessments before you’re certified, but that’
s to get certified and then you can actually go on and teach other people and stuff like that.. It was building up that core
group of people so that there were enough SAFER assessors. The Alliance and the ASPCA got FLIP cameras for the
assessors so that they could film them and get certified. We purchased equipment they need to do assessments,
rawhides, that kind of thing. We got someone who designed the website. …. We needed someone to design the web site
and it does works and is there. Barbra Tolan, who works for the Alliance, took SAFER testing, and did a SAFER test in her
own room on her own dog….. The website is there. It will be a password protected web site that will show the 4 or 5
SAFER tests or how many tests there are. It will give the score. It will show you what the assessors are rating it on. …
[Mayor’s Alliance employee Barbara Tolan is doing a test SAFER to put on the website.] When that goes up with the
modifications that Emily Weiss wanted put on it, it will go to Risa and then she can decide and then we’ll take the next
step … It was technologically a lot more difficult than we thought it would be. It is coming and we are training as many
SAFER people as we can. It all took time and a lot longer than we thought it would be.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED TO THE AC&C
1. SHELTERS FOR THE BRONX AND QUEENS. Why does the AC&C join with the Dept of Health to fight the court ruling to
enforce a 2000 Law requiring each borough to have a full service shelter? Is it the AC&C’s position that full service
shelters are NOT needed in the Bronx and Queens?
RISA: We are all on the same page. You are our partners. We value you tremendously. You’re such a vital part of our
operation. Listen carefully: we are a vendor [to the DOH]. So, we did not join the lawsuit [lawsuit brought by Stray From
the Heart rescue, suing the DOH for failing to create shelters in the Bronx and in Queens], we provided factual information
for the DOH to respond to the complaint. We gave the facts of the shelters. Do we think that shelters are needed in the
Bronx and Queens? The numbers speak for themselves. We have over 40,000 animals a year come into our shelters.
We have no right to turn any animal away.
Of course we think we need more full service shelters. But we are a vendor, so our operations are completely dependent
on the amount of the money the DOH gives us. Our organization is set up with DOH [inaudible]. They know exactly how we
are setup. Right now we do not have money for full service shelters in the Bronx or Queens. DOH has been actively
looking for the right space, but it is a money issue. This is not an issue that the AC&C can control. When we negotiate the
final contract with the DOH, it is possible that the City will come up with the additional money for the shelters. It will
probably be an add-on to the contract. The money we were given will be less than what we are operating on now.
We are a victim of the recession like anybody else. We are not trying to work against you at all. We are limited by the
amount of money we are given to operate.
2. BUDGET AND STAFFING- Volunteers and rescuers have reported a noticeable reduction in AC&C staff, and if this is the
case, is this due to a reduced budget or to something else?
RISA: We have had no layoffs. We are experiencing attrition. We have less money to hire more people. So, as people
leave the organization, we assess what we are left with. If somebody left who only does that particular job in the
organization, that is a position we are going to have to replace. But if it is a job that several people are doing, that job we
will not fill the position as quickly.
Our budget is so tight now that it would be irresponsible for us to hire additional people knowing that our budget is going
to be cut next year and the next 4 years after that. Our money is tied to New York City we are a quasi-agency. We are a
private not-for-profit organization, but our funding comes from the City. So if the City is going to have layoffs, we are going
to experience the pinch financially. We are trying not to lay anybody off.
3. HVAC AT THE SHELTERS. What percentage DECREASE in URI should we expect to see when the new Manhattan
HVAC is completed? Because the rate of URI contagion in Brooklyn is on a par with Manhattan’s, do you plan to install a
new HVAC in Brooklyn?
Gentles
RICHARD: First let me explain why the HVAC system was replaced in Manhattan. The system was antiquated; there was
a mixing of exhaust air and the intake air. So you were actually mixing the same air over and over again. It was impossible
to control the temperatures because the units were so old they were out-living their lives. So, they had to be replaced. In
addition we replaced the roof, upgraded the electrical system, the fire alarm systems. It [the shelter] will get painted.
Hopefully we will be putting in some request to improving the floors so we can clean them better. It is an important
component to keeping animals healthy is air quality. The rooms’ air is exchanged [with new air] 13 times an hour. That is
on a par with some hospitals for people. We also have to make sure we are doing a good job in our sanitation, that our
staff is cleaning properly. These shelters are not designed for what we are using it them for. It is very challenging to keep
the shelters clean. Then you have the staffing issues. We know that HVAC will help us to improve the health of the
animals. Whether we can measure that I don’t know.
The HVAC system in Brooklyn is only 5 or 6 years old. Temperature control is working and the duct work is fine. So here
we have to concentrate on our cleaning and disinfection procedures. Bottom line: is the quicker we get them [animals] out,
the better we are going to be.
4. What is the AC&C doing about the rash of calici virus in cats at the Manhattan shelter? Have the DOH and the AC&C
considered that the live calici virus vaccination may cause calici in some of the cats?
DR. JANEZCKO: I want to take opportunity time to make a plea to you guys [rescuers]: when you start to notice a problem,
please let me know. Because sometimes you see things first, because animals are getting sick after they leave that we
don’t necessary see. I can tell you that we do have problems with URI in our shelters; it is a common problem in shelters.
Calici is one of the main causes of that, so it is true for not just the AC&C. Generally, you can’t tell by looking at a cat
without doing diagnostics whether or not it is calici. In terms of there being a rash of calici infections, we do have calici
infections from time to time. I have received one e-mail last week that one group saw more cases than it usually sees and
it seems to be much more concentrated than they usually have. That is the first I have heard of it. I haven’t heard from any
of the medical staff that they have seen more severe URI or a greater number of URI and I haven’t heard from any other
groups. I am not saying that maybe this isn’t the beginning of something. So please let me know. I have several e-mail
addresses: my e-mail address, my cell phone and the New Hope e-mail address. The sooner I find out about things the
sooner I can look into them. This includes giving me as much information as possible: When did it happen? What exactly
you are seeing? Did your vet do any tests on it? All that information is helpful, so I can do something about that.
To address about the specific calici vaccination: the current recommendations from shelter vaccination experts is to
vaccinate cats at entry with a modified live vaccine. More problematic with calici is that the vaccination does not do a great
job of protecting cats against infection because of specific characteristics of the virus. Very rarely, you will hear about
vaccinations causing very mild signs; they are usually very mild and not that bad and they go away in a day or two. It is
usually not from this specific kind of vaccine.
JANE: Dr Janezcko just sent out e-mails with information about a number of diseases. If you didn’t get it let me know and I
will send it to you. Contact information for Dr Janezcko is included. We are partners, they don’t know unless you tell them.
So, let them know what you are seeing and please be a specific as possible. The more information you can give her, the
better.
DR. JANEZCKO: When I write back to you and ask you specific questions, please don’t take that as my disbelieving you. I
am just trying to get together the information we need to do something about it.
JANE: You can put your vet in touch with Dr. Janezcko.
5. DEDICATED STAFF TO SCHEDULE RESCUED ANIMALS' SPAY/NEUTER - It is difficult for rescue groups to get
through the AC&C hotline to schedule a spay/neuter appointment. Why can’t the AC&C create a dedicated line to reach a
specific person whose job is to make appointments for spay/neuter, AND to place a qualified person at the intake desk to
handle surgery admissions in the morning?
RICHARD: This has clearly been a challenge for us. We have modified this over time. Most recently we have been using
the call center. With the call center we go back to our staffing issues. With the call center we have between 4 and 5 people
answering the phones throughout the day. They get between 800 and 1,000 calls per day. If you do the math, it so many
people calling in with just so few people answering the lines. That is why the holds are long and why people hang up, it is
a very, very frustrating situation for everyone. For us to have a dedicated person to answer the hot line just hasn’t been
working. We have been kicking around a lot of ideas. We don’t know if it will be perfect, but it will be as close to perfect as
we can possible be to meet your needs. If you have any ideas besides a dedicated line or hiring somebody, let us know.
RISA: We will probably be making changes in a couple of weeks. We just haven’t decided on the most efficient way to go.
We are working on it.
JANE: If you present the problem you are having, and realize this is your partner you are talking to, and explain what your
problem is, then they have a chance to fix it. If they don’t get enough information, then they aren’t going to be able to fix it.
6. EAR-TIPPING BY AC&C MEDICAL STAFF: Why doesn't the ACC do the universally accepted ear-tip on the feral cats
that they spay/neuter? We have had to re-anesthetize them to correct the AC&C ear-tip before we can release them into a
feral colony. The AC&C's attempts at ear-notches are easily confused with fight wounds and aren't recognized to prevent a
second S/N surgery or proof of a Rabies vaccination.
DR. JANEZCKO: This is the first time I am hearing about that. I am not saying this is not a problem but this is the first time
it is coming to my attention. The two things I would say about this is are:
1) Me working with my staff to make sure that all the vets working with us know the correct way to ear tip.
2) If you guys are pulling a cat that you know or think will be released to a colony and need an ear tip, please make
sure you clearly communicate that to New Hope. We don’t automatically ear tip just based on the behavior we are seeing
in the shelter. S, we need the request and when I have your request I will make sure we are doing properly.
7. IMPROVING QUALITY OF VET STAFF- Why does the AC&C vet staff frequently miscalculate an animal’s age and are
often are unable to determine whether a female cat has been spayed?
DR. JANEZCKO: Estimating age is extremely subjective. The only time we can really consistently estimate age is up until
they are about 5 months old, because their baby teeth fall out and their adult teeth come in, in a very specific order. After
this point, we are basing it on much more subjective things. There are a lot of factors that affect the condition of their teeth.
So, recognize it is a very non-specific science. We would like to say a range [of years, e.g. 3-6], but Chameleon [the AC&C’
s software] does let you pick a range. So, we usually pick a number in the middle. It shouldn’t be wildly off, but understand
it is hard to be really precise.
To see if a cat has been spayed or not, the only way you can really see that is to shave their belly. Sometimes you can feel
the scar but not always. Tattoos are relatively new and really only a thing that spay/neuter clinics do. I can tell you if any of
you have turned on clippers near a cat, they are not big fans. We really try to handle them in a way that they are not getting
stressed so we don’t to have to put a cat on a bite hold. So that is why sometimes we get it [whether cat is spayed] wrong.
There is an expensive blood kit to look for pregnancy in dogs and you can use it for cats. If anybody has money they would
like to give us for this we could consider doing it. It really comes down to a handling issue trying to see what is there with
out unduly stressing out the cats.
8. Cats (most of whom are nervous at shelters and certainly when they’re being handled by vet staff) are placed under a
Department of Health bite or scratch hold if they are reported to have scratched or nipped someone during an exam. Can
the vet and kennel staff be more careful when handling these creatures, so as to prevent DOH holds?
DR. JANEZCKO: I am always on top of the staff about how they are handling and being gentle and not stressing them
out. We are not going to intentionally place the cat in a situation where they are so fearful where they will scratch or bite. If
they are that fractious, we will sedate them so that we can examine them and give them their vaccines. Cats can be subtle
in their warnings. We do take this seriously, because cats are my thing and having a less stressful stay in the shelter is
one of my primary goals. They are definitely careful and it is something I am continually looking at.
9. Why (in Brooklyn especially) does New Hope focus on pleas for injured or sick cats, while ignoring healthy adult cats
and kittens, who end up being euthanized for space?
RICHARD: There are a number of alerts that go out. The First Alert is as soon as the animal comes in, the other alerts are
generated by New Hope, another alert is when an animal returns from adoption events. There are times where we will
focus our attention on the sick an injured. But we are into no-healthy deaths. We haven’t put any animals down for space
in January [this is the 5th year the AC&C has a moratorium on euthanizing for space January].. The focus has been on the
sick and injured because thankfully we haven’t had to be in a situation of having to euthanize. We have our quality control
checks. What quality control folks do, as the New Hope [euthanasia] alerts go out, they check those alerts and go through
the records to make sure nothing has been missed. An animal cannot go on that list unless at least two pleas have gone
out and that includes animals that have moderate behavioral issues, health issues and space issues. And if they have
not had those two pleas that have gone out, they are automatically get pulled off [the euth list] by that coordinator and then
they notify the shelter supervisor. Then that animal gets prioritized as going out by the New Hope staff and they put extra
effort into sending out pleas.
DR. JANEZCKO: We do sometimes give sort of specific time frames to New Hope about animals that have certain
conditions, and we really need to prioritize them for placement because we are not an animal hospital. We are limited as
to who we can keep and what we are able to do for them and so it is some time the case we are focusing that plea
because that animal we can’t give them what they need. It is not that we value anybody more or less is just that they have
a much more immediate concern.
10. EUTHANASIA LISTS- Why are some New Hope partners not allowed to receive the euthanasia lists that are e-mailed
every day at 5 PM?
JANE: If you are an approved New Hope partner, you can get it by request. There are certain groups that have requested
not to receive the list. But, I think there are times again that -- focusing on that end of the journey of the animal -- we rather
you get them out earlier. Send requests to Richard Gentles.
11. SAFER TESTS: How many certified SAFERists are in Manhattan? Brooklyn? Staten Island? What are their names,
days and hours?
JANE: Jess [Van Brunt of New Hope] puts out a list that is sent to the New Hope partners, which lists all of these folks.
RICHARD: Staten Island, there is one person. In Brooklyn, there are two certified SAFER evaluators, and Manhattan, no
one at this point. They are in the process of getting their certification; they have submitted their tape once. I have been told
by the ASPCA that it sometimes takes 2 or 3 times to successfully pass their certification. We have support from the Mayor’
s Alliance and the ASPCA and we have put in a request to get additional staff be provided the training.
JANE: Part of the problem is that SAFER is done all over the country by the ASPCA, so we have to wait ‘til the next session
is close, because, if we are going to spend money to fly people all over the place, it is a waste money if we can do it
closer. There is more training than are certified.
12. CHAMELEON: Why is the AC&C still using Chameleon with all its limitations? More than a year ago the Mayor’s
Alliance and the ASPCA offered to pay all the costs of re-programming a new software (called PetPoint) to accommodate
the AC&C’s needs. Isn’t that an offer the AC&C cannot and should not refuse?
RISA: The answer is tied to our contract. The DOH has stated that no decisions to change our computer database can be
made without them. Jane and I have talked about PetPoint for over a year. And we have spoken many times to the person
who is behind the whole PetPoint production.
AC&C is not the road block. We are moving now into a new contract [with the DOH], so it is something that we have to
discuss with the DOH. The vendors who had to submit their proposals [to the DOH for a new 5-year contract for animal
care and control] needed to know how to use Chameleon. Any discussion about any other computer program will be
subject to further negotiations. But the DOH has to approve it. They are very tied into our computer records. We generate
reports specifically for the DOH from Chameleon, so they need to know what the system is. So many people use it, not
just the AC&C, but the DOH also has to use it. So, because we get our money from the DOH they need to be in on that
process as well.
JANE: What Jane was referring to is that there was a negotiated acquisition for an RFP [Request for Proposal] put out [by
the DOH]. The AC&C and another vendor came forward. The DOH has to put that out every couple of years because they
must go for ? vendors. Part of this was to get their reports from Chameleon. That is what they are comfortable with. They
weren’t going to move on this ‘til after they selected a vendor and the contract was negotiated. I don’t think it is a dead
issue, but it is out of our hands.
NOTE: Questions 13 & 14 were inadvertently not asked at the meeting.
Risa Weinstock graciously provided the answers by e-mail after the meeting:
13. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO PULL ANIMALS? What's the protocol for pulling dogs? I am now being told a person with
New Hope status needs to wait in-line at the specific shelter from which the rescuer wants to pull a dog (i.e., when its
stray hold is up) and that it's first-come/first-served, which is impossible for rescuers who have daytime jobs.
RISA: This question is most likely related to a New Hope partner’s immediate interest in highly adoptable animals that
they see on the first alert emails. The animals are on a stray wait and may have multiple public adopters interested as
well. New Hope staff does their best to be fair and accommodate the requests for specific animals from New Hope
partners while working with the ACC shelter needs as well. If a New Hope partner is adamant about adopting a dog or cat
that other public adopters are told to wait and come back when the animal is available, then it is only fair that NH partners
follow the same protocol as the public which is “first come, first service”. There are also times when New Hope does their
best to accommodate the group(s) considering highly adoptable animals because of all the times the groups take sick,
injured and harder to adopt animals. It is not always easy to balance the competing needs of everyone involved but New
Hope staff does their best to balance the interests.
14. FOR RISA: ANIMALS WITH URI: RESCUE v. ADOPTIONS. Animals catch URI because they’re at the shelters, but the
public doesn't get to see animals that are in the sick ward. Why is this the case, when so many animals are put down
simply for URI, which is eminently treatable?
RISA: Good biosecurity is one of the cornerstones of infectious disease control, and this includes limiting the contact that
sick animals have with the general population. In order to accomplish this, we segregate sick animals from healthy
animals in the isolation areas. While this certainly helps to reduce the dose of infectious disease that the rest of the
population is exposed to, restricting traffic flow through the shelter is a corollary of this. For this reason, access to the
isolation wards is as tightly controlled as possible and staff and volunteers do not have free access to those areas. This
is the main reason that we do not allow public access to the sick ward – allowing members of the public to intermingle
with sick animals and then to have access to our healthy adoptable population greatly increases the likelihood that they
will inadvertently spread disease throughout the shelter. While this does mean that the animals under treatment cannot
be viewed by the public, this is necessary to protect their health and the health of the rest of the population, and most of
the animals in the sick wards have been moved there once they became ill several days into their stay at the shelter – so
many of them have been available for adoption and seen by the public already.
Finally, our average adopter is not interested in adopting a sick animal even when we provide them with the medication,
and so restricting the public’s access from the sick ward is not likely to have a substantial impact on the number of
animals placed.
JANUARY 28, 2010 MEETING OF APPROVED AC&C RESCUERS
WITH THE AC&C AND MAYOR’S ALLIANCE
Representing the AC&C:
Risa Weinstock, Interim Executive Director (appointed 10/09)
Richard Gentles: Director of Administration
Dr. Stephanie Janezcko: Medical Director
Pam Ward: Brooklyn New Hope
Representing the Mayor’s Alliance
Jane Hoffman: Founder and President
[Jane Hoffman of the Mayor’s Alliance started with a PowerPoint presentation of the Mayor’s Alliance 10-year Strategic
Plan and Progress to achieve no-kill status for New York City by the year 2015. (Click here to see the Plan Report as of
2008.) Jane noted that in 2002 (the year before the Mayor’s Alliance commenced operations), the euthanasia rate at the
AC&C was 74%. Every year since then has seen a steady decrease in euthanasia. Jane projects that the AC&C’s 2009
numbers will show a 32% euthanasia rate.]
QUESTIONS PRESENTED TO JANE HOFFMAN
1. WHEN AND HOW CAN THE AC&C BECOME NO KILL? How will the AC&C be no-kill by 2015 with the number of
pitbulls and cats coming into the shelters? What is the plan, especially to do with all the pitbulls when so many
communities and housing facilities now ban the breed?
JANE: We need to keep in mind, that at the end of 2009 the projected euthanasia rate has been reduced to 4,520 for
dogs and under 10,000 for cats. This is from the total intake. Is that too many? Yes, but this is an amazing achievement on
your [rescuers’] part and the AC&C. Also the AC&C has adopted out over 8,000 and transferred out 17,000 animals.
Pitbulls: It is all about spay/neuter. The ASPCA did a spay/neuter [event] in the Fall [of 2009] and did 121 pit bulls for free in
one day. That is what we need to do. We have to increase our capacity to do spay/neuter.
AC&C, Richard Gentles and I went to testify at [NYC Council Member] Rosie Mendez’s hearing on the NYCHA [New York
City Housing Authority] policy. We put out, along with the ASPCA, a joint memo opposing it. We are working with owners to
get their dogs back and to try to find a way they can keep their animals. It was a real hit. There were 180 pitbulls that came
in to the AC&C since that policy was put in place. Some have been taken out by rescuers, some have been adopted, and a
good number have died, through only the fault of NYCHA, because they had homes.
Cats: got to spay/neuter and that is it.
2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A MAYOR’S ALLIANCE MEMBER? I have a 501c3, have experience pulling
ACC animals, submitted my Mayor’s Alliance Membership form 6 months ago, and have heard nothing further. Is it
because you’re allowing just pure breed rescue groups now?
JANE: At first we knew all the groups that were applying, but now we don’t really know the groups so we have extended the
amount of time they work with the AC&C to try to get to see what their track record working with New Hope is; for about 6
months. They must be partners with New Hope, and they must fill out our form. Because of the difficulties of doing
reporting for Maddie’s Fund -- remember we are gathering data from 106 groups including the ACC every month -- and we
have to work our way through that, so we let people in about once a year.
We try, in collaboration with the AC&C, to do site visits before accepting groups, not to rule anybody out, but to make sure
the animals are going to places that we know they will be well taken care of. This also allows us to find out what
improvement grants the groups may need.
So no, we don’t allow just pure breed rescue groups in; in fact we haven’t had one in a while. We would like more pure
breed rescuers.
3. We understand that as a 501c3 entity, the Alliance cannot be involved in political lobbying or any other type of political
activity. However, we'd like to know if the Alliance has ever considered using its influence and contacts at City Hall to push
for a separate agency to oversee the rescue and placement of homeless dogs and cats. That is, rather than having the
AC&C under the Dept. of Health, can the Alliance push for the creation of a separate entity, which we can call NYC Animal
Care and Adoption Agency, or a department within the Health Dept. which we can call Department of Animal Affairs with its
own budget and staff and with direct report to the Mayor?
JANE: I wish I had as much influence or contacts with City Hall as everybody thinks I do. I would love to see a separate
Department of Animal Services. We should get a lot of things, not just animal care and control. There is a lot of urban wild
animal issues, geese issues etc. I think there should be a separate department. Do I think it is going to happen? No. I
would like to see a separate department with a commissioner which can fight for their own budget line, but in this
economic environment I don’t think it is going to happening.
4. SPAY/NEUTER- Why can’t the Mayors Alliance recruit more NYC vets to offer low cost spay neuter? Wasn’t that part of
the Mayor’s Alliance agreement? Why can’t the Mayor’s Alliance give more Maddie’s Fund monies to the AC&C for their
BIG FIX PROGRAM?
JANE: We tried to get private vets to participate in Maddie’s Fund spay/neuter project. About the second year of the project
we told the Fund to take their money back if we can’t let the non-profits in. Why shouldn’t they be part of this group and
have their efforts be supported and reimbursed for surgeries of homed animals? I won that argument and the non-profits
are let in. The private vets were not chomping at the bit to participate in the program. The amount of money the Fund is
offering in Georgia was probably great, but in NYC, not so much. We have a core group of about 12 vets and probably
about 4 of these who are carrying the labor on this. Thank god for the ASPCA, the Humane Society, the Toby Project and
other nonprofit groups. We did work at first with NYC Veterinary Medical Association and then went beyond to individual
vets. A lot of vets do contribute individually.
There is no Big Fix any more.
5. How quickly must a rescuer pull an animal to ensure that it will NOT come down with URI – a hour, a few hours, a day,
2 days, how long?
JANE: Look at the First Alerts, and try to get the animal immediately.
DR. JANEZCKO: The honest answer is: the sooner the better. Because the longer they are in the shelter, the more likely
they are to get sick. Some animals may arrive sick, others can get sick in a day, others won’t be sick for several days after.
It’s different from animal to animal. So there is no magic number.
6. When will the promised rescuer website (to view SAFER tests) be up and running, and what are the reasons for the
delay? Almost a year ago, the Mayor's Alliance announced that they were creating a rescuer website on which all AC&C
SAFER tests would be posted. Having SAFERs accessible to rescuers is absolutely vital so dog rescuers can see how
the tests are conducted, because there is much controversy about how the SAFER tests are conducted at the AC&C and
the qualifications of employees who perform them.
JANE: I’m really thrilled to announce, this was not as easy as we thought it would be. The first thing we needed to do with
the support of the ASPCA that does the SAFER training. We had to wait until the employees chosen to do the SAFER
training went to training. It’s a two day training. Several went to training. It sorta like a road test. You have to submit three
tapes to Dr. Emily Weiss who developed [SAFER] to be certified. You can do assessments before you’re certified, but that’
s to get certified and then you can actually go on and teach other people and stuff like that.. It was building up that core
group of people so that there were enough SAFER assessors. The Alliance and the ASPCA got FLIP cameras for the
assessors so that they could film them and get certified. We purchased equipment they need to do assessments,
rawhides, that kind of thing. We got someone who designed the website. …. We needed someone to design the web site
and it does works and is there. Barbra Tolan, who works for the Alliance, took SAFER testing, and did a SAFER test in her
own room on her own dog….. The website is there. It will be a password protected web site that will show the 4 or 5
SAFER tests or how many tests there are. It will give the score. It will show you what the assessors are rating it on. …
[Mayor’s Alliance employee Barbara Tolan is doing a test SAFER to put on the website.] When that goes up with the
modifications that Emily Weiss wanted put on it, it will go to Risa and then she can decide and then we’ll take the next
step … It was technologically a lot more difficult than we thought it would be. It is coming and we are training as many
SAFER people as we can. It all took time and a lot longer than we thought it would be.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED TO THE AC&C
1. SHELTERS FOR THE BRONX AND QUEENS. Why does the AC&C join with the Dept of Health to fight the court ruling to
enforce a 2000 Law requiring each borough to have a full service shelter? Is it the AC&C’s position that full service
shelters are NOT needed in the Bronx and Queens?
RISA: We are all on the same page. You are our partners. We value you tremendously. You’re such a vital part of our
operation. Listen carefully: we are a vendor [to the DOH]. So, we did not join the lawsuit [lawsuit brought by Stray From
the Heart rescue, suing the DOH for failing to create shelters in the Bronx and in Queens], we provided factual information
for the DOH to respond to the complaint. We gave the facts of the shelters. Do we think that shelters are needed in the
Bronx and Queens? The numbers speak for themselves. We have over 40,000 animals a year come into our shelters.
We have no right to turn any animal away.
Of course we think we need more full service shelters. But we are a vendor, so our operations are completely dependent
on the amount of the money the DOH gives us. Our organization is set up with DOH [inaudible]. They know exactly how we
are setup. Right now we do not have money for full service shelters in the Bronx or Queens. DOH has been actively
looking for the right space, but it is a money issue. This is not an issue that the AC&C can control. When we negotiate the
final contract with the DOH, it is possible that the City will come up with the additional money for the shelters. It will
probably be an add-on to the contract. The money we were given will be less than what we are operating on now.
We are a victim of the recession like anybody else. We are not trying to work against you at all. We are limited by the
amount of money we are given to operate.
2. BUDGET AND STAFFING- Volunteers and rescuers have reported a noticeable reduction in AC&C staff, and if this is the
case, is this due to a reduced budget or to something else?
RISA: We have had no layoffs. We are experiencing attrition. We have less money to hire more people. So, as people
leave the organization, we assess what we are left with. If somebody left who only does that particular job in the
organization, that is a position we are going to have to replace. But if it is a job that several people are doing, that job we
will not fill the position as quickly.
Our budget is so tight now that it would be irresponsible for us to hire additional people knowing that our budget is going
to be cut next year and the next 4 years after that. Our money is tied to New York City we are a quasi-agency. We are a
private not-for-profit organization, but our funding comes from the City. So if the City is going to have layoffs, we are going
to experience the pinch financially. We are trying not to lay anybody off.
3. HVAC AT THE SHELTERS. What percentage DECREASE in URI should we expect to see when the new Manhattan
HVAC is completed? Because the rate of URI contagion in Brooklyn is on a par with Manhattan’s, do you plan to install a
new HVAC in Brooklyn?
Gentles
RICHARD: First let me explain why the HVAC system was replaced in Manhattan. The system was antiquated; there was
a mixing of exhaust air and the intake air. So you were actually mixing the same air over and over again. It was impossible
to control the temperatures because the units were so old they were out-living their lives. So, they had to be replaced. In
addition we replaced the roof, upgraded the electrical system, the fire alarm systems. It [the shelter] will get painted.
Hopefully we will be putting in some request to improving the floors so we can clean them better. It is an important
component to keeping animals healthy is air quality. The rooms’ air is exchanged [with new air] 13 times an hour. That is
on a par with some hospitals for people. We also have to make sure we are doing a good job in our sanitation, that our
staff is cleaning properly. These shelters are not designed for what we are using it them for. It is very challenging to keep
the shelters clean. Then you have the staffing issues. We know that HVAC will help us to improve the health of the
animals. Whether we can measure that I don’t know.
The HVAC system in Brooklyn is only 5 or 6 years old. Temperature control is working and the duct work is fine. So here
we have to concentrate on our cleaning and disinfection procedures. Bottom line: is the quicker we get them [animals] out,
the better we are going to be.
4. What is the AC&C doing about the rash of calici virus in cats at the Manhattan shelter? Have the DOH and the AC&C
considered that the live calici virus vaccination may cause calici in some of the cats?
DR. JANEZCKO: I want to take opportunity time to make a plea to you guys [rescuers]: when you start to notice a problem,
please let me know. Because sometimes you see things first, because animals are getting sick after they leave that we
don’t necessary see. I can tell you that we do have problems with URI in our shelters; it is a common problem in shelters.
Calici is one of the main causes of that, so it is true for not just the AC&C. Generally, you can’t tell by looking at a cat
without doing diagnostics whether or not it is calici. In terms of there being a rash of calici infections, we do have calici
infections from time to time. I have received one e-mail last week that one group saw more cases than it usually sees and
it seems to be much more concentrated than they usually have. That is the first I have heard of it. I haven’t heard from any
of the medical staff that they have seen more severe URI or a greater number of URI and I haven’t heard from any other
groups. I am not saying that maybe this isn’t the beginning of something. So please let me know. I have several e-mail
addresses: my e-mail address, my cell phone and the New Hope e-mail address. The sooner I find out about things the
sooner I can look into them. This includes giving me as much information as possible: When did it happen? What exactly
you are seeing? Did your vet do any tests on it? All that information is helpful, so I can do something about that.
To address about the specific calici vaccination: the current recommendations from shelter vaccination experts is to
vaccinate cats at entry with a modified live vaccine. More problematic with calici is that the vaccination does not do a great
job of protecting cats against infection because of specific characteristics of the virus. Very rarely, you will hear about
vaccinations causing very mild signs; they are usually very mild and not that bad and they go away in a day or two. It is
usually not from this specific kind of vaccine.
JANE: Dr Janezcko just sent out e-mails with information about a number of diseases. If you didn’t get it let me know and I
will send it to you. Contact information for Dr Janezcko is included. We are partners, they don’t know unless you tell them.
So, let them know what you are seeing and please be a specific as possible. The more information you can give her, the
better.
DR. JANEZCKO: When I write back to you and ask you specific questions, please don’t take that as my disbelieving you. I
am just trying to get together the information we need to do something about it.
JANE: You can put your vet in touch with Dr. Janezcko.
5. DEDICATED STAFF TO SCHEDULE RESCUED ANIMALS' SPAY/NEUTER - It is difficult for rescue groups to get
through the AC&C hotline to schedule a spay/neuter appointment. Why can’t the AC&C create a dedicated line to reach a
specific person whose job is to make appointments for spay/neuter, AND to place a qualified person at the intake desk to
handle surgery admissions in the morning?
RICHARD: This has clearly been a challenge for us. We have modified this over time. Most recently we have been using
the call center. With the call center we go back to our staffing issues. With the call center we have between 4 and 5 people
answering the phones throughout the day. They get between 800 and 1,000 calls per day. If you do the math, it so many
people calling in with just so few people answering the lines. That is why the holds are long and why people hang up, it is
a very, very frustrating situation for everyone. For us to have a dedicated person to answer the hot line just hasn’t been
working. We have been kicking around a lot of ideas. We don’t know if it will be perfect, but it will be as close to perfect as
we can possible be to meet your needs. If you have any ideas besides a dedicated line or hiring somebody, let us know.
RISA: We will probably be making changes in a couple of weeks. We just haven’t decided on the most efficient way to go.
We are working on it.
JANE: If you present the problem you are having, and realize this is your partner you are talking to, and explain what your
problem is, then they have a chance to fix it. If they don’t get enough information, then they aren’t going to be able to fix it.
6. EAR-TIPPING BY AC&C MEDICAL STAFF: Why doesn't the ACC do the universally accepted ear-tip on the feral cats
that they spay/neuter? We have had to re-anesthetize them to correct the AC&C ear-tip before we can release them into a
feral colony. The AC&C's attempts at ear-notches are easily confused with fight wounds and aren't recognized to prevent a
second S/N surgery or proof of a Rabies vaccination.
DR. JANEZCKO: This is the first time I am hearing about that. I am not saying this is not a problem but this is the first time
it is coming to my attention. The two things I would say about this is are:
1) Me working with my staff to make sure that all the vets working with us know the correct way to ear tip.
2) If you guys are pulling a cat that you know or think will be released to a colony and need an ear tip, please make
sure you clearly communicate that to New Hope. We don’t automatically ear tip just based on the behavior we are seeing
in the shelter. S, we need the request and when I have your request I will make sure we are doing properly.
7. IMPROVING QUALITY OF VET STAFF- Why does the AC&C vet staff frequently miscalculate an animal’s age and are
often are unable to determine whether a female cat has been spayed?
DR. JANEZCKO: Estimating age is extremely subjective. The only time we can really consistently estimate age is up until
they are about 5 months old, because their baby teeth fall out and their adult teeth come in, in a very specific order. After
this point, we are basing it on much more subjective things. There are a lot of factors that affect the condition of their teeth.
So, recognize it is a very non-specific science. We would like to say a range [of years, e.g. 3-6], but Chameleon [the AC&C’
s software] does let you pick a range. So, we usually pick a number in the middle. It shouldn’t be wildly off, but understand
it is hard to be really precise.
To see if a cat has been spayed or not, the only way you can really see that is to shave their belly. Sometimes you can feel
the scar but not always. Tattoos are relatively new and really only a thing that spay/neuter clinics do. I can tell you if any of
you have turned on clippers near a cat, they are not big fans. We really try to handle them in a way that they are not getting
stressed so we don’t to have to put a cat on a bite hold. So that is why sometimes we get it [whether cat is spayed] wrong.
There is an expensive blood kit to look for pregnancy in dogs and you can use it for cats. If anybody has money they would
like to give us for this we could consider doing it. It really comes down to a handling issue trying to see what is there with
out unduly stressing out the cats.
8. Cats (most of whom are nervous at shelters and certainly when they’re being handled by vet staff) are placed under a
Department of Health bite or scratch hold if they are reported to have scratched or nipped someone during an exam. Can
the vet and kennel staff be more careful when handling these creatures, so as to prevent DOH holds?
DR. JANEZCKO: I am always on top of the staff about how they are handling and being gentle and not stressing them
out. We are not going to intentionally place the cat in a situation where they are so fearful where they will scratch or bite. If
they are that fractious, we will sedate them so that we can examine them and give them their vaccines. Cats can be subtle
in their warnings. We do take this seriously, because cats are my thing and having a less stressful stay in the shelter is
one of my primary goals. They are definitely careful and it is something I am continually looking at.
9. Why (in Brooklyn especially) does New Hope focus on pleas for injured or sick cats, while ignoring healthy adult cats
and kittens, who end up being euthanized for space?
RICHARD: There are a number of alerts that go out. The First Alert is as soon as the animal comes in, the other alerts are
generated by New Hope, another alert is when an animal returns from adoption events. There are times where we will
focus our attention on the sick an injured. But we are into no-healthy deaths. We haven’t put any animals down for space
in January [this is the 5th year the AC&C has a moratorium on euthanizing for space January].. The focus has been on the
sick and injured because thankfully we haven’t had to be in a situation of having to euthanize. We have our quality control
checks. What quality control folks do, as the New Hope [euthanasia] alerts go out, they check those alerts and go through
the records to make sure nothing has been missed. An animal cannot go on that list unless at least two pleas have gone
out and that includes animals that have moderate behavioral issues, health issues and space issues. And if they have
not had those two pleas that have gone out, they are automatically get pulled off [the euth list] by that coordinator and then
they notify the shelter supervisor. Then that animal gets prioritized as going out by the New Hope staff and they put extra
effort into sending out pleas.
DR. JANEZCKO: We do sometimes give sort of specific time frames to New Hope about animals that have certain
conditions, and we really need to prioritize them for placement because we are not an animal hospital. We are limited as
to who we can keep and what we are able to do for them and so it is some time the case we are focusing that plea
because that animal we can’t give them what they need. It is not that we value anybody more or less is just that they have
a much more immediate concern.
10. EUTHANASIA LISTS- Why are some New Hope partners not allowed to receive the euthanasia lists that are e-mailed
every day at 5 PM?
JANE: If you are an approved New Hope partner, you can get it by request. There are certain groups that have requested
not to receive the list. But, I think there are times again that -- focusing on that end of the journey of the animal -- we rather
you get them out earlier. Send requests to Richard Gentles.
11. SAFER TESTS: How many certified SAFERists are in Manhattan? Brooklyn? Staten Island? What are their names,
days and hours?
JANE: Jess [Van Brunt of New Hope] puts out a list that is sent to the New Hope partners, which lists all of these folks.
RICHARD: Staten Island, there is one person. In Brooklyn, there are two certified SAFER evaluators, and Manhattan, no
one at this point. They are in the process of getting their certification; they have submitted their tape once. I have been told
by the ASPCA that it sometimes takes 2 or 3 times to successfully pass their certification. We have support from the Mayor’
s Alliance and the ASPCA and we have put in a request to get additional staff be provided the training.
JANE: Part of the problem is that SAFER is done all over the country by the ASPCA, so we have to wait ‘til the next session
is close, because, if we are going to spend money to fly people all over the place, it is a waste money if we can do it
closer. There is more training than are certified.
12. CHAMELEON: Why is the AC&C still using Chameleon with all its limitations? More than a year ago the Mayor’s
Alliance and the ASPCA offered to pay all the costs of re-programming a new software (called PetPoint) to accommodate
the AC&C’s needs. Isn’t that an offer the AC&C cannot and should not refuse?
RISA: The answer is tied to our contract. The DOH has stated that no decisions to change our computer database can be
made without them. Jane and I have talked about PetPoint for over a year. And we have spoken many times to the person
who is behind the whole PetPoint production.
AC&C is not the road block. We are moving now into a new contract [with the DOH], so it is something that we have to
discuss with the DOH. The vendors who had to submit their proposals [to the DOH for a new 5-year contract for animal
care and control] needed to know how to use Chameleon. Any discussion about any other computer program will be
subject to further negotiations. But the DOH has to approve it. They are very tied into our computer records. We generate
reports specifically for the DOH from Chameleon, so they need to know what the system is. So many people use it, not
just the AC&C, but the DOH also has to use it. So, because we get our money from the DOH they need to be in on that
process as well.
JANE: What Jane was referring to is that there was a negotiated acquisition for an RFP [Request for Proposal] put out [by
the DOH]. The AC&C and another vendor came forward. The DOH has to put that out every couple of years because they
must go for ? vendors. Part of this was to get their reports from Chameleon. That is what they are comfortable with. They
weren’t going to move on this ‘til after they selected a vendor and the contract was negotiated. I don’t think it is a dead
issue, but it is out of our hands.
NOTE: Questions 13 & 14 were inadvertently not asked at the meeting.
Risa Weinstock graciously provided the answers by e-mail after the meeting:
13. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO PULL ANIMALS? What's the protocol for pulling dogs? I am now being told a person with
New Hope status needs to wait in-line at the specific shelter from which the rescuer wants to pull a dog (i.e., when its
stray hold is up) and that it's first-come/first-served, which is impossible for rescuers who have daytime jobs.
RISA: This question is most likely related to a New Hope partner’s immediate interest in highly adoptable animals that
they see on the first alert emails. The animals are on a stray wait and may have multiple public adopters interested as
well. New Hope staff does their best to be fair and accommodate the requests for specific animals from New Hope
partners while working with the ACC shelter needs as well. If a New Hope partner is adamant about adopting a dog or cat
that other public adopters are told to wait and come back when the animal is available, then it is only fair that NH partners
follow the same protocol as the public which is “first come, first service”. There are also times when New Hope does their
best to accommodate the group(s) considering highly adoptable animals because of all the times the groups take sick,
injured and harder to adopt animals. It is not always easy to balance the competing needs of everyone involved but New
Hope staff does their best to balance the interests.
14. FOR RISA: ANIMALS WITH URI: RESCUE v. ADOPTIONS. Animals catch URI because they’re at the shelters, but the
public doesn't get to see animals that are in the sick ward. Why is this the case, when so many animals are put down
simply for URI, which is eminently treatable?
RISA: Good biosecurity is one of the cornerstones of infectious disease control, and this includes limiting the contact that
sick animals have with the general population. In order to accomplish this, we segregate sick animals from healthy
animals in the isolation areas. While this certainly helps to reduce the dose of infectious disease that the rest of the
population is exposed to, restricting traffic flow through the shelter is a corollary of this. For this reason, access to the
isolation wards is as tightly controlled as possible and staff and volunteers do not have free access to those areas. This
is the main reason that we do not allow public access to the sick ward – allowing members of the public to intermingle
with sick animals and then to have access to our healthy adoptable population greatly increases the likelihood that they
will inadvertently spread disease throughout the shelter. While this does mean that the animals under treatment cannot
be viewed by the public, this is necessary to protect their health and the health of the rest of the population, and most of
the animals in the sick wards have been moved there once they became ill several days into their stay at the shelter – so
many of them have been available for adoption and seen by the public already.
Finally, our average adopter is not interested in adopting a sick animal even when we provide them with the medication,
and so restricting the public’s access from the sick ward is not likely to have a substantial impact on the number of
animals placed.
| Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC) ShelterReform.org: Everything you ever wanted to know about the AC&C, but were afraid to ask. |