2009 was a significant year for our organization, as we are half-way to reaching our goal.

I would first like to thank all of our Alliance Participating Organizations. Without the collaboration and efforts provided by all of our affiliated organizations, we would not have been nearly as successful this past year. I would like to thank Maddie’s Fund^® for its guidance, generous support, and faith in us as a city that we will reach our no-kill goal by 2015, and for bringing us as a country a step closer to becoming a no-kill nation. I also want to acknowledge the tremendous support and resources provided to the Alliance by the ASPCA.

But most importantly, I would like to acknowledge all of our 150 Alliance Participating Organizations working tirelessly to develop a no-kill community. Many thanks also to the North Shore Animal League America for its continued generosity in making its mobile adoption units available to our shelters and rescue groups, and also to our amazing volunteers and other supporters whose dedicated efforts each and every day move us closer to our goal.

Among the 18 initiatives identified in our ten-year strategic plan, three initiatives in particular have contributed greatly to our achievements in 2009. The Wheels of Hope transport program, the New York City Feral Cat Initiative, and the Picasso Veterinary Fund helped reduce euthanasia at Animal Care & Control of NYC shelters to a historic low of 33%, down from 74% in 2002. Further, the AC&C New Hope Program, which receives partial funding from the Mayor’s Alliance, transferred to Alliance Participating Organizations and other rescue partners 17,641 dogs and cats from city shelters, thereby guaranteeing placement of these animals in new homes, rather than having them be euthanized.

Congratulations and thanks to all of you for your heroic efforts in saving the many lives of New York City’s homeless animals. We have come a long way since 2002, when the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals was founded as a result of three motivating factors: (i) the efforts and the persistence of the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals; (ii) the establishment of the multi-million-dollar Maddie’s Fund in 1999; and (iii) the inauguration of Michael R. Bloomberg as Mayor of New York City in 2002, whose administration has embraced the notion of private investment in municipal projects.

We look forward to next year and continuing to reduce euthanasia at AC&C to a projected level under 30%, thereby moving closer to our goal of New York City becoming a no-kill community.

Jane Hoffman, President
Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals