Overview

• Since July 19 ACC has suspended all general pet intakes and is accepting only emergencies, government referrals and ongoing adoptions.
• The Queens facility is housing 169 dogs in space built for 72, forcing kennel doubling and strained conditions.
• Across the network more than 1,000 animals are in care, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and nearly 300 pets in foster homes.
• Construction on two new shelters in the Bronx and Brooklyn will not be completed until next year, prolonging short-term overcrowding.
• Officials warn that shelter staff cannot adopt their way out of the backlog without sustained community support and new capacity.