Animal Care & Control                                            
11 Park Place, Suite 805
New York, NY
www.nycacc.org

Rubenstein Public Relations
Contact: Samantha Stark   Tel: 212 843-8001
Email: sstark@rubensteinpr.com

ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS
AT NEW YORK CITY CARE CENTERS

New Statistics Show Best Outcomes and Care for Homeless Animals to Date

New York, NY – January X, 2009 – Despite worsening economic conditions, Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C), the largest pet rescue and adoption agency in the North East, announces widespread improvements at their shelters, along with statistics showingeuthanasia is at a record low while adoptions are at a record high – all leading to significant improvements in shelter animals’ lives.

Operational improvements and expanded program support have helped to improve care and provide a less stress-inducing atmosphere for the animals. Furthermore, AC&C has seen a record decrease in euthanasia with a reduction of 55% in the last eight fiscal years. Euthanasia decreased considerably in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, down by 20%. AC&C has also seen a record increase in adoptions, up by 83% over the last eight fiscal years. Adoptions increased 15% in the second quarter alone. Significant increases have also been seen in AC&C’s Foster Program. Fosters have increased 69%, fiscal year to date, and fosters for the second quarter increased 58%. Additionally, the number of volunteers has more than doubled.

Animal Care & Control has created numerous new positions to enhance the lives of rescued animals. Several Canine Enrichment positions were established to ensure all dogs are walked each day, which reduces the stress and boredom of being in a kennel and provides the benefit of human interaction.  More veterinarians and vet techs were hired to provide quality medical care to the animals, who now receive around the clock vet tech care. Additionally, AC&C has partnered with Cornell University to effectively diagnose and treat illness within the shelter environment.

Charlene Pedrolie, Executive Director of Animal Care & Control says that “2008 was a year of record improvements for AC&C. Our statistics show that the advancements that we’ve been making are having a profound impact. Euthanasia has never been this low and adoption has never been this high.” Pedrolie also notes that “one of the positions that has significantly improved the lives and outcomes of ACC dogs is the Canine Enrichment position. By walking and interacting with the dogs more frequently, this position improves the animal’s ability to socialize, making them more likely to be adopted.”

Program enhancements include training provided by the ASPCA to AC&C’s staff and veterinarians in order to properly identify and gather evidence in cruelty cases. In addition, AC&C hired adoption counselors to provide one-on-one customer service for potential adopters.  Animal Care & Control has also mandated that all animals now receive a toy and blanket each day, to make their stay more enjoyable and comfortable.

Other operational improvements to AC&C’s five care centers include the addition of a surgical suite to the Staten Island Care Center, brand new, larger dog runs at the Brooklyn Care Center, and larger cat condos at the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island Care Centers. A nursery area was also created at both the Manhattan and Brooklyn Care Centers to isolate mothers and their puppies or kittens from the general shelter population to reduce their stress. In addition, the HVAC project is underway at the Manhattan Care Center, which will improve air quality.

For more information on AC&C’s improvements and to see the animals currently available for adoption, visit www.nycacc.org. AC&C has adoption events every weekend in each of the five boroughs, and there are always adoptable animals looking for a permanent home in the shelters.

About Animal Care & Control of New York City: AC&C rescues over 43,000 animals each year, making the organization the largest pet rescue and adoption agency in the North East. Since 1995, the not-for-profit organization has been responsible for New York City’s municipal shelter system, caring for rescued animals and finding loving homes for homeless, injured, neglected, abused and abandoned animals in all five boroughs of New York City. AC&C takes in all homeless pets, including the over 120 new animals on the streets every day. Animals are given shelter, vaccinated, medically evaluated, housed, and fed until they are reunited with their owners or adopted. AC&C has implemented numerous programs to ensure that as many animals as possible are placed in loving and supporting homes.