The following is the complete text of the press release issued by City Council Member A. Gifford Miller on September 12, 1997


News... from City Council Member A. Gifford Miller
5th Council District, 336 East 73rd Street, Suite C, New York, NY 10021, (212) 535-5554
City Hall Office, 250 Broadway, 22nd floor, (212) 788-6873, miller@csu.council.nyc.ny.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 1997
Contact: Mareel van Ooyen (212) 788-6873

Miller Supports Shelter Reform Referendum
Cites Council Report Calling for Changes at the Center for Animal Care and Control

In response to the alarming rate at which the Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC) has been euthanizing the animals in their care, City Council Member Gifford Miller announced his support of a ballot referendum that would create a City Department of Animal Affairs.

The referendum calls for the creation of a new city department in charge of caring for lost, stray, and injured animals by implementing and maintaining an animal control operation and shelter system. In addition, the new department would facilitate dog and horse licensing, promote humane education, and perform all those functions and operations that relate to the affairs and welfare of animals. Most importantly, the Director of this department would be required to have at least four years field management experience in animal care and control.

"The mismanagement of the CACC has resulted in the unfortunate destruction of thousands of innocent dogs and cats who, given a chance, would have made wonderful pets," Miller stated. "As a pet lover, and the owner of two cats adopted from shelters, such a lack of oversight is deeply upsetting to me. It is unacceptable that theCACC puts down 125 homeless dogs and cats each day. There is no question that we need to improve the way New York City deals with its abandoned and lost animals; this referendum is a step in the right direction."

In June of this year, the City Council's Committee on Contracts issued a report that outlined the management problems of the CACC. The report cited extraordinarily high euthanasia rates, adoption rates lower than the national average, poor conditions at CACC shelters, and the failure to assure that many of the animals who do find homes are spayed or neutered.

"The Council's report, which brought to the light the numerous problems at the CACC, proves that reform is needed," Miller added. "In addition to adopting homeless dogs and cats and having their animals spayed or neutered, I encourage New Yorkers to cast a vote against animal cruelty by supporting this very important referendum."