On January 28, 2010 Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC) hosted a meeting of approved AC&C rescuers
(both Mayor’s Alliance and New Hope partners). Rescuers were encouraged to submit one question each in
advance of the meeting, the question to be directed to either the AC&C or the Mayor’s Alliance. To view a
proofread copy of the Q&A Transcript click here.
Representing the AC&C:
Risa Weinstock, Interim Executive Director
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
SRAC was honored to have as our special guest, New York State Assemblyperson Micah Kellner, a staunch
advocate for animals.
In her opening remarks SRAC Co-Chair Jen Panton presented SRAC’s position on the Department of Health:
that it is the WRONG City agency to supervise the AC&C, and that its stranglehold over the AC&C is the source
of all the AC&C's problems. Not the least of those problems is the disgracefully insufficient budget the DOH
has traditionally doled out for animal care and control services.
With your help, we can change this.
First, we ask you to contact various elected and appointed officials, demanding that the DOH obey the City’s
2000 Shelters & Sterilization law, as amended, requiring full service animal shelters in the Bronx and in
Queens. Under that law, the shelters should have been up and running by 2006. Click here for a list of officials,
their contact information, and suggested letters/e-mails to send them.
Second, once the DOH has selected yet another Executive Director for the AC&C (under Bloomberg, there have
been 5 Executive Directors and 2 Interim Executive directors!), the DOH will certainly schedule the next AC&C
Board Meeting. Please make every effort to attend every meeting of the AC&C Board of Directors. Years ago,
SRAC successfully sued to have these Board meetings opened to the public. If animal advocates begin to
show up en masse and speak out, that will send a clear message to the AC&C Directors (and the DOH and
ultimately the Mayor) that we want change ... starting with replacing those very directors. All AC&C directors are
effectively chosen by the Mayor's Office and/or the DOH. In legal parlance, these directors "breach their fiduciary
duty" to the AC&C, because they serve the Mayor and the DOH, not the AC&C and its animals. To understand
the dynamics of the Mayor's and the DOH's control over the AC&C, click on this link for a flowchart.
Finally, here is a list of rescue groups who attended the January 28th meeting:
A Cause for Paws
A Place for Us
A Tail at a Time
Animal Assistance of New Brunswick
Animal Haven
Anjellicle Cats
All Sentient Beings
Bide A Wee
Big Apple Bull Terrier Rescue
BP Rescue
Bobbi 'N The Strays
City Critters
Companion Animal Network
Dalmatian Adoption, Inc.
Derrek's Gleeful Rescue
Four Paws Sake
Friends of Animal Rescue
Heart and Hand Rescue
Kitty Kind
Long Island Bulldog Rescue
Louie's Legacy Rescue
Louis Animal Foundation, The
Metropolitan Maltese Rescue
New Yorkers for Comp. Animals
Peppertree Rescue
Pigeon Rescue
Posh Pets Rescue
Ready for Rescue
ReeFuge
Rabbit Rescue & Rehab
Sean Casey Rescue
Shepherds Hope Rescue
Smilin’ Pit Bull Rescue
Stray From The Heart
Tails of Love Animal Rescue
Tavi & Friends
United Action for Animals
Urban Cat League
Waggin' Train Rescue
Woof Dog Rescue
Zani's Furry Friends
(both Mayor’s Alliance and New Hope partners). Rescuers were encouraged to submit one question each in
advance of the meeting, the question to be directed to either the AC&C or the Mayor’s Alliance. To view a
proofread copy of the Q&A Transcript click here.
Representing the AC&C:
Risa Weinstock, Interim Executive Director
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
SRAC was honored to have as our special guest, New York State Assemblyperson Micah Kellner, a staunch
advocate for animals.
In her opening remarks SRAC Co-Chair Jen Panton presented SRAC’s position on the Department of Health:
that it is the WRONG City agency to supervise the AC&C, and that its stranglehold over the AC&C is the source
of all the AC&C's problems. Not the least of those problems is the disgracefully insufficient budget the DOH
has traditionally doled out for animal care and control services.
With your help, we can change this.
First, we ask you to contact various elected and appointed officials, demanding that the DOH obey the City’s
2000 Shelters & Sterilization law, as amended, requiring full service animal shelters in the Bronx and in
Queens. Under that law, the shelters should have been up and running by 2006. Click here for a list of officials,
their contact information, and suggested letters/e-mails to send them.
Second, once the DOH has selected yet another Executive Director for the AC&C (under Bloomberg, there have
been 5 Executive Directors and 2 Interim Executive directors!), the DOH will certainly schedule the next AC&C
Board Meeting. Please make every effort to attend every meeting of the AC&C Board of Directors. Years ago,
SRAC successfully sued to have these Board meetings opened to the public. If animal advocates begin to
show up en masse and speak out, that will send a clear message to the AC&C Directors (and the DOH and
ultimately the Mayor) that we want change ... starting with replacing those very directors. All AC&C directors are
effectively chosen by the Mayor's Office and/or the DOH. In legal parlance, these directors "breach their fiduciary
duty" to the AC&C, because they serve the Mayor and the DOH, not the AC&C and its animals. To understand
the dynamics of the Mayor's and the DOH's control over the AC&C, click on this link for a flowchart.
Finally, here is a list of rescue groups who attended the January 28th meeting:
A Cause for Paws
A Place for Us
A Tail at a Time
Animal Assistance of New Brunswick
Animal Haven
Anjellicle Cats
All Sentient Beings
Bide A Wee
Big Apple Bull Terrier Rescue
BP Rescue
Bobbi 'N The Strays
City Critters
Companion Animal Network
Dalmatian Adoption, Inc.
Derrek's Gleeful Rescue
Four Paws Sake
Friends of Animal Rescue
Heart and Hand Rescue
Kitty Kind
Long Island Bulldog Rescue
Louie's Legacy Rescue
Louis Animal Foundation, The
Metropolitan Maltese Rescue
New Yorkers for Comp. Animals
Peppertree Rescue
Pigeon Rescue
Posh Pets Rescue
Ready for Rescue
ReeFuge
Rabbit Rescue & Rehab
Sean Casey Rescue
Shepherds Hope Rescue
Smilin’ Pit Bull Rescue
Stray From The Heart
Tails of Love Animal Rescue
Tavi & Friends
United Action for Animals
Urban Cat League
Waggin' Train Rescue
Woof Dog Rescue
Zani's Furry Friends
| Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC) ShelterReform.org: Everything you ever wanted to know about the AC&C, but were afraid to ask. |
