First Annual New York Week for the Animals Kicks Off with Central Park 'Fall Fiesta' Saturday, October 10

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, with support from the ASPCA, is a coalition of more than 150 animal rescue groups and shelters working with Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) to end the killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs at AC&C shelters. To achieve that goal, the Alliance, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, helps its Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) work to their highest potential to increase pet adoptions and spay/neuter rates, with the goal of transforming New York City into a no-kill community by 2015.

www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org

About the ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation's leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach, and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit.

www.aspca.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

Media Contacts

Carrie Hyman

M. Silver Associates

Phone: (212) 754-6500 x245

E-mail: carrie@msilver-pr.com

Jessica Del Guercio

M. Silver Associates

Phone: (212) 754-6500 x237

E-mail: jessica@msilver-pr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

First Annual New York Week for the Animals Kicks Off with Central Park "Fall Fiesta" Saturday, October 10

The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, ASPCA, and Animal Care & Control join forces to offer the public pet adoptions, FREE pet services, and family fun!

NEW YORK, NY – Tuesday, October 6, 2009 – The Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) will kick off the first-ever New York Week for the Animals on Saturday, October 10, with a unique Fall Fiesta pet event in Central Park at 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard.

The all-day event will offer pet owners a unique opportunity to access a range of free essential services for their pets at a time when many of them are struggling financially to provide adequate care for their pets. The Fall Fiesta offers free spay/neuter clinics beginning at 7:00 a.m. (first come, first served), and free vaccinations for Pit Bulls and spayed or neutered dogs, as well as free microchipping for cats and dogs beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Individuals and families looking to add a furry new member to their household can meet dogs and cats for adoption from the ASPCA and AC&C. Adoption fees will apply, but AC&C will offer free adoptions of cats more than one year old and the ASPCA will reduce adoption fees.

An ASPCA veterinarian, trainer, and groomer, plus ASPCA experts from Humane Law Enforcement and emergency preparedness will be on hand to answer questions and provide information. Demonstrations of TTouch massage and other wellness therapies will be provided by Tavi & Friends, an Alliance Participating Organization. And representatives from several organizations, such as Safety Net and the Animal Relief Fund (ARF), that provide assistance to pet owners struggling to provide for their pets during these difficult economic times, will be on hand with information about available resources in NYC.

Music by DJ Blackwood, giveaways, free popcorn and cotton candy, and photo ops with the six-foot Maddie's Fund Miniature Schnauzer mascot will round out the pet- and family-friendly event until it closes at 4:00 p.m.

Animal World USA, the creator of New York Week for the Animals, also will be represented at the Fall Fiesta. New York Week for the Animals runs from October 10 through October 18, and features more than 125 events throughout New York State, including adoption and spay/neuter events, educational programs, community events, and fundraisers — all designed to promote the important roles that animals play in our lives and how they help bring the community together. A full list of New York Week for the Animals events can be found at www.NewYorkAnimals.org.

For more information about the Central Park Fall Fiesta, spay/neuter, or vaccination, contact the ASPCA at (877) SPAY-NYC (877-772-9692). For more information about microchipping or adoptions, contact the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals at (212) 252-2350 or info@AnimalAllianceNYC.org. For information about adopting from Animal Care & Control, contact AC&C at www.nycacc.org.

Event Flyer

Click on the image below to display the event flyer:

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