FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 12, 2010

Mayor Bloomberg Announces $1 Million Grant from the ASPCA to Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

Continued Support from ASPCA Has Helped New York City Increase Adoptions and Achieve its Lowest Euthanasia Rate in History

New York, NY – Monday, April 12, 2010 – Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced a $1 million grant from the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to support the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals — a coalition of more than 160 animal rescue groups and shelters that work with Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) to end the killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs in AC&C shelters.

"Today the ASPCA has honored us with a $1 million renewal grant to continue saving at-risk pets in our community, and we're incredibly grateful for their support," said Mayor Bloomberg. "This is a great example of the kind of partnership between the City and non-profit organizations that is so necessary in these challenging economic times. By working together, we can help the City move even closer to a day when we will no longer have to euthanize any healthy or treatable homeless animals."

The Mayor's Alliance will use the funds from the ASPCA to continue to increase adoptions, transfer at-risk animals to no-kill rescue organizations, and provide low- and no-cost spay/neuter services for low-income New Yorkers.

Joining the Mayor at today's announcement were Ed Sayres, President and CEO of the ASPCA; Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor's Alliance; and Julie Bank, the newly appointed Executive Director of Animal Care & Control. The Mayor was also joined by Chrysler, Spirit, Gilbert, and Marshall, four precious pooches currently available for adoption at the ASPCA and AC&C.

"This grant demonstrates to New York City and the Mayor's Alliance how much we value their tireless efforts to prevent animals of reasonable health and temperament from being killed just because they don't have a home," said Mr. Sayres. "Homelessness is the No. 1 risk factor for companion animals in the United States, and with eight million residents and more than three million companion animals here in our own backyard, the New York City metropolitan area is the ideal backdrop for the ASPCA to help provide positive outcomes for at-risk pets."

"New York City's euthanasia rate for companion animals is at its lowest in history," added Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals. "Through the Alliance, we're able to pool resources, overcome differences in priorities, and facilitate the collaboration of four key groups — the public, local government, Animal Care & Control of NYC, and local no-kill shelters and rescue groups — to work toward solving the problem of animal homelessness."

Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs), whose efforts are powered by Maddie's Fund, The Pet Rescue Foundation, and the ASPCA, routinely transfer animals in danger of being euthanized from the city's public shelters to groups and organizations that can guarantee placement. In 2009, APOs pulled 17,641 dogs and cats from city shelters, further reducing the euthanasia rate from 39 percent in 2008 to 33 percent (down from 74 percent in 2002, the year before the collaboration began). More than 42,000 animals enter AC&C in NYC each year.

"I feel privileged to lead an organization so committed to the welfare of animals," said Julie Bank, the newly appointed director of Animal Care & Control of New York City. "AC&C rescues more than 40,000 animals each year. The support we receive from the Mayor's Alliance, ASPCA, Maddie's Fund, and our other partners and rescue groups is critical to our mission. I'm confident that by working together, we will continue to increase the number of animals that find safe, loving homes."

"We know there are no 'quick fixes' to ending the unnecessary euthanasia of animals," added Mr. Sayres. "But we do know, and have proof, that collaboration among all groups in striving to reduce the unnecessary euthanasia of these animals can work."

In 2009, the ASPCA transferred 1,153 cats and dogs from AC&C shelters to its adoption center in Manhattan. In addition, the ASPCA spayed and neutered more than 31,000 cats and dogs on its five mobile clinics, which can be found in all five boroughs, seven days a week, providing low- and no-cost spay or neuter surgeries for up to 125 dogs and cats per day.

The ASPCA, a founding member of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, provided a $5 million lead grant to the Alliance in 2005, its single largest grant to date. Both organizations are committed to working together with AC&C with the goal of ultimately transforming New York City into a "no-kill" community by 2015.

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