NY Daily News, Friday, June 7, 2002
Few shelter pets survive
About two-thirds of all animals that enter the city's shelter system are put to sleep-some because of clerical errors, a scathing audit charges.
In the first six months of 2001 only 22.9% of the 28,673 animals taken in by the Center for Animal Care and Control were adopted. Some 67.3% were euthanized. The rest either remained in shelters or were reclaimed by their owners.
"Their focus isn't on adoptions," said city Controller William Thompson, whose audit called for sweeping changes and better city oversight of the center. "It's on disposing of animals."
Marilyn Haggerty-Blohm, executive director of the center contracted by the city Health Department to handle stray animals, slammed the audit as inaccurate and politically motivated.
Mayor Bloomberg said he was assured by Health Department officials that animals were not being mistreated at the shelters, but he agreed changes are needed at the center.
Lisa L. Colangelo
Few shelter pets survive
About two-thirds of all animals that enter the city's shelter system are put to sleep-some because of clerical errors, a scathing audit charges.
In the first six months of 2001 only 22.9% of the 28,673 animals taken in by the Center for Animal Care and Control were adopted. Some 67.3% were euthanized. The rest either remained in shelters or were reclaimed by their owners.
"Their focus isn't on adoptions," said city Controller William Thompson, whose audit called for sweeping changes and better city oversight of the center. "It's on disposing of animals."
Marilyn Haggerty-Blohm, executive director of the center contracted by the city Health Department to handle stray animals, slammed the audit as inaccurate and politically motivated.
Mayor Bloomberg said he was assured by Health Department officials that animals were not being mistreated at the shelters, but he agreed changes are needed at the center.
Lisa L. Colangelo
