FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 20, 2009

Animal Care & Control Offers Free Cat Adoptions and Pet Care Options through Labor Day

NEW YORK, NY – Monday, July 20, 2009 – Animcal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) is urging New Yorkers to come and adopt a cat or kitten, and will provide the following to all adopters through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2009:

• FREE adoptions of all adult cats (one year old or more),

• FREE vaccinations,

• FREE spay or neuter,

• FREE visit with a participating veterinarian,

• FREE microchipping, and a

• FREE "Welcome Home" goody bag.

This year AC&C has not had to euthanize any healthy animals because of space. They would like to keep this going for the remainder of the year, if not indefinitely. They can only do this if the public comes into the shelters to adopt any one of the hundreds of wonderful adoptable cats. There are also many cute dogs to choose from as well.

"We strongly encourage people who love animals and can properly care for one to come to the shelter and adopt a cat for free today. Cats are typically low-maintenance and affordable pets who are just looking to be loved," said Richard Gentles, spokesperson for AC&C.

AC&C is New York City's municipal shelter system and, as such, is required by law to accept any animal that is brought to them. AC&C currently has a large number of cats and kittens, mostly the result of people neglecting to have their cats spayed or neutered — especially those cats allowed outdoors. This year's "kitten season," which will run throughout the summer and into the fall, has been especially intense; shelters currently have more cats and kittens than there are available homes.

"We encourage people who must surrender their pets, those who have unwanted litters or find stray animals, to keep them in their home for at least a few weeks in order to help save more lives. The Mayor's Alliance also offers low-cost pet care options for those in need, so they can keep their beloved pet," said Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals.

Here are some tips on how New Yorkers can help our city shelters:

Spay or neuter every pet. The single most important step pet owners can take to reduce the number of unwanted animals in shelters is to spay or neuter their pets. Many of the city's homeless cats and kittens are the offspring of unspayed/unneutered housecats. Free and low-cost spay/neuter is available throughout New York City. For information about these programs, visit www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org/needhelp/spayneuter.htm.

Always adopt/never buy a pet. Adopting a pet is easy with regular shelter adoption hours, adoption van appearances and other pet adoption events throughout the city. AC&C's shelters in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island are open for adoptions Noon – 7 pm, seven days a week. For locations of AC&C shelters visit www.nycacc.org. For a calendar of upcoming adoption events throughout New York City, visit the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals website at www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org/events/adoption.htm.

Foster a homeless animal. Many shelters and rescue groups have foster programs that allow families or individuals to take in an animal for a temporary period, usually anywhere from a few days to a month or more. This option is especially good for families with children on summer vacation and teachers who are on summer break. For more information, please contact your local shelter. For a list of New York City shelters and rescue groups, visit www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org/about/apos/borough.htm.

Consider adopting an older animal. Younger animals, especially kittens, are more likely to be adopted first, leaving many older animals to languish in shelters. Older animals can make wonderful companions for nearly any family, and can be particularly well-suited for seniors who may not be able to care for an active kitten or puppy.

To find out more information about Animal Care & Control, shelter locations, adoption hours, upcoming adoption events, and this special "Free Cat Adoption" offer, please visit www.nycacc.org.

About Animal Care & Control of New York City

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 Northeast. 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 of the boroughs in New York City. (www.nycacc.org)

About the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Inc., founded in 2002 and powered by Maddie's Fund^®, The Pet Rescue Foundation, is a coalition of more than 150 animal rescue groups and shelters that are working with the City of New York to find homes for every cat and dog in the city who needs one. For more information about the Mayor's Alliance, its participating organizations and pet adoptions, please visit the Mayor's Alliance website at www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org.

Press Contact

Jessica Del Guercio, M. Silver Associates

Phone: (212) 754-6500 x237

E-mail: jessica@msilver-pr.com

Richard Gentles, Animal Care & Control of New York City

E-mail: rgentles@nycacc.org

Office: (917) 807-7829

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