About Us:
Mission Statement: The SRAC was formed in 1994 to improve conditions and
accountability in the New York City animal shelter system through education, lobbying,
legislative initiatives and legal action. To expose the dysfunction and indifference by the
City’s Department of Health (DOH) in its stewardship of the AC&C, and remove the DOH
from control over the current shelter system. To create an entity (whether a new
Department of Animals Affairs or an independent organization) whose primary goal is the
care and placement of the City’s homeless pet population. To lead organizations in creating
a network of low cost spay/neuter facilities throughout the City. To require that the Board of
Education to honor its obligation to teach the humane treatment of animals to our City’s
children.
Who we are: SRAC is a coalition of animal advocate organizations, rescuers, former
AC&C employees and volunteers, and concerned citizens. Our activities are funded through
the volunteerism and generosity of those who care about the plight of animals.
How you can help:
Write, email and call the officials that can change things. Get contact information here
If you'd like to volunteer, e-mail us at: info@ShelterReform.org
SRAC's EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Esther Koslow:
Former Volunteer at Animal Care & Control, Co-creator of the AC&C's Cruelty Seizure
Committee, Co-creator of the Volunteer Biographers/Photographers
email: Info@ShelterReform.org
Doug Halsey:
A native New Yorker, Doug has been doing rescuing cats and dogs from the shelters and off
the streets of New York City for 10 years. He is the founder and director of Ready for
Rescue (ready4rescue.org) a group dedicated to focusing on animals that particularly at risk
in the shelter system. In addition to cats and dogs, Doug is active in fighting for the rights of
all animals. He is also the Sr. Site Director for History.com.
email: Info@ShelterReform.org
Lynn Grossman:
Freelance computer consultant, Former Volunteer at Animal Care & Control
email: Info@ShelterReform.org
Why the SRAC Was Created
The SRAC was formed as an unincorporated association in 1994 to serve as witness and
credit of the DOH’s domination of the AC&C and to serve as an advocate for the AC&C
animals. The original executive committee consisted of: Gary Kaskel (co-chair), Marie Mar
(co-chair), Julie Van Ness (treasurer) and Barbara Stagno (secretary). Other founding
members included: Livi French, Patty Adjamine and Carol Caver.
While we have succeeded in opening up AC&C records and Board meetings, secured vital
legislation, ushered the exit of some incompetents from the AC&C Board and AC&C
management, major obstacles still remain. As long as the Mayor has absolute and exclusive
power to determine who and/or what will control the City’s pet animal services, there can be
no major reform. As long as there is no independent Department of Animal Affairs or a true
stand-alone organization to assume responsibility for the homeless pet population, there
can be no true reform.
We need to change the 1894 State Law giving New York City’s Mayor the exclusive right
over the life and death of the City’s pet population. We need to create an organization that
has the care of animals as its primary goal. The DOH has always cynically underfunded the
AC&C, preventing it from properly caring for the City’s homeless pet population. We need
the City to create ample low cost spay/neuter facilities in the neighborhoods which are
epicenters of homeless pets. We need the City to enforce legislative rules made long ago
that animal care and compassion be taught in our public schools.
Will you help us in these efforts?
Read more about the problems with the Mayor having control over the City's Shelter system.
What SRAC has accomplished and what still needs to be done
We have opened up the AC&C records and Board meetings, secured vital legislation, and
ushered the exit of various incompetents from the AC&C Board and AC&C management.
But major obstacles remain:
(1) We need to change the laws, starting with an 1894 NY State Law giving New York City’s
Mayor the exclusive power over the life and death of the City’s pet population. Read more
about why SRAC argues that the Mayor and the DOH must be removed from control of the
NYC shelter system. We also need to expand the City’s housing laws to protect a tenant’s
right to keep a companion animal.
(2) Once the Mayor no longer controls animal services (and by extension, neither does the
DOH), we need to oversee the creation of an organization that truly has the care of
companion animals as its primary goal, and can demand and receive appropriate funding
from the City, and to create full service/and well designed shelters in all 5 boroughs,
including the Bronx and Queens.
(3) We must attract public and private monies to (a) create ample low cost spay/neuter
facilities in neighborhoods where the majority of homeless pets come from, and (b) make
low cost veterinary care also available to people who otherwise could not afford medical
care for their pets.
(4) We need to ensure that the Board of Education enforces a legislative mandate
requiring that animal care and compassion be taught in our public schools.
Contact Us
e-mail us at: info@ShelterReform
SRAC Home Page
Mission Statement: The SRAC was formed in 1994 to improve conditions and
accountability in the New York City animal shelter system through education, lobbying,
legislative initiatives and legal action. To expose the dysfunction and indifference by the
City’s Department of Health (DOH) in its stewardship of the AC&C, and remove the DOH
from control over the current shelter system. To create an entity (whether a new
Department of Animals Affairs or an independent organization) whose primary goal is the
care and placement of the City’s homeless pet population. To lead organizations in creating
a network of low cost spay/neuter facilities throughout the City. To require that the Board of
Education to honor its obligation to teach the humane treatment of animals to our City’s
children.
Who we are: SRAC is a coalition of animal advocate organizations, rescuers, former
AC&C employees and volunteers, and concerned citizens. Our activities are funded through
the volunteerism and generosity of those who care about the plight of animals.
How you can help:
Write, email and call the officials that can change things. Get contact information here
If you'd like to volunteer, e-mail us at: info@ShelterReform.org
SRAC's EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Esther Koslow:
Former Volunteer at Animal Care & Control, Co-creator of the AC&C's Cruelty Seizure
Committee, Co-creator of the Volunteer Biographers/Photographers
email: Info@ShelterReform.org
Doug Halsey:
A native New Yorker, Doug has been doing rescuing cats and dogs from the shelters and off
the streets of New York City for 10 years. He is the founder and director of Ready for
Rescue (ready4rescue.org) a group dedicated to focusing on animals that particularly at risk
in the shelter system. In addition to cats and dogs, Doug is active in fighting for the rights of
all animals. He is also the Sr. Site Director for History.com.
email: Info@ShelterReform.org
Lynn Grossman:
Freelance computer consultant, Former Volunteer at Animal Care & Control
email: Info@ShelterReform.org
Why the SRAC Was Created
The SRAC was formed as an unincorporated association in 1994 to serve as witness and
credit of the DOH’s domination of the AC&C and to serve as an advocate for the AC&C
animals. The original executive committee consisted of: Gary Kaskel (co-chair), Marie Mar
(co-chair), Julie Van Ness (treasurer) and Barbara Stagno (secretary). Other founding
members included: Livi French, Patty Adjamine and Carol Caver.
While we have succeeded in opening up AC&C records and Board meetings, secured vital
legislation, ushered the exit of some incompetents from the AC&C Board and AC&C
management, major obstacles still remain. As long as the Mayor has absolute and exclusive
power to determine who and/or what will control the City’s pet animal services, there can be
no major reform. As long as there is no independent Department of Animal Affairs or a true
stand-alone organization to assume responsibility for the homeless pet population, there
can be no true reform.
We need to change the 1894 State Law giving New York City’s Mayor the exclusive right
over the life and death of the City’s pet population. We need to create an organization that
has the care of animals as its primary goal. The DOH has always cynically underfunded the
AC&C, preventing it from properly caring for the City’s homeless pet population. We need
the City to create ample low cost spay/neuter facilities in the neighborhoods which are
epicenters of homeless pets. We need the City to enforce legislative rules made long ago
that animal care and compassion be taught in our public schools.
Will you help us in these efforts?
Read more about the problems with the Mayor having control over the City's Shelter system.
What SRAC has accomplished and what still needs to be done
We have opened up the AC&C records and Board meetings, secured vital legislation, and
ushered the exit of various incompetents from the AC&C Board and AC&C management.
But major obstacles remain:
(1) We need to change the laws, starting with an 1894 NY State Law giving New York City’s
Mayor the exclusive power over the life and death of the City’s pet population. Read more
about why SRAC argues that the Mayor and the DOH must be removed from control of the
NYC shelter system. We also need to expand the City’s housing laws to protect a tenant’s
right to keep a companion animal.
(2) Once the Mayor no longer controls animal services (and by extension, neither does the
DOH), we need to oversee the creation of an organization that truly has the care of
companion animals as its primary goal, and can demand and receive appropriate funding
from the City, and to create full service/and well designed shelters in all 5 boroughs,
including the Bronx and Queens.
(3) We must attract public and private monies to (a) create ample low cost spay/neuter
facilities in neighborhoods where the majority of homeless pets come from, and (b) make
low cost veterinary care also available to people who otherwise could not afford medical
care for their pets.
(4) We need to ensure that the Board of Education enforces a legislative mandate
requiring that animal care and compassion be taught in our public schools.
Contact Us
e-mail us at: info@ShelterReform
SRAC Home Page
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| Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC) ShelterReform.org: Everything you ever wanted to know about the AC&C, but were afraid to ask. |
