The Office of Veterinary Public Health Services' mission is to promote and protect the health of New York City residents and visitors by ensuring an environment free from animal-borne diseases, hazards and nuisances by controlling and regulating animals. VPHS's goals are to:
- Prevent the transmission of zoonotic diseases from
animals to people
- Reduce animal nuisances
To accomplish these goals, the Program will employ the following strategies:
Education and Community Outreach
- • Provide printed materials, mailings, and
public seminars in collaboration with External Affairs and other Department of
Health offices.
- • Teach animal handling courses and the Horse Drawn Carriage Operator's Course.
Monitoring, Surveillance and Tracking
- • Collect data on animal bites, rabies
vaccinations and animal sheltering statistics, and other meaningful
occurrences to identify trends which support animal control.
- • Responding to Complaints regarding animal nuisances.
Enforcement
- • Inspect facilities; issue violations; hold hearings; issue commissioner's orders to abate and/or surrender animals which pose a danger to humans; and enforce City mandates/codes for working animals.
Regulation
To report an incidence of cruelty to animals call the ASPCA at (212) 876-7700, ask for Humane Law Enforcement Division.
