ARCHIVES OF THE MAYOR'S WEEKLY COLUMN Archives of Rudolph W. Giuliani

Curbing Pet Overpopulation
By Mayor Rudy Giuliani

We all know that New York City is a very populous place. There are almost eight million people in the five boroughs. But it's also populous in another way we don't think about as often. With nearly 60,000 animals entering the City's shelter system last year, it is vital that we address the problem of pet overpopulation.

The problem of pet overpopulation can be summed up as too many animals and not enough homes. One can approach the problem in two ways - first, reduce the number of animals; second, increase the availability of homes.

In a bold step toward providing a more humane environment for homeless and unwanted companion animals, my administration, in conjunction with the City Council, sponsored legislation which requires the spaying and neutering of all dogs and cats, with some exceptions, prior to release from a shelter or sale by a pet store. This addresses the first part of the problem by curbing the city's dog and cat overpopulation.

Additionally, the bill requires the establishment of a full-service animal shelter in every borough. This addresses the need to increase the availability of homes by bringing shelters into more neighborhoods. This important legislation was approved last month by the City Council and signed into law by me last week.

Presently, more than 37% of the animals released from the City's Center for Animal Care and Control's (CACC) shelters are not spayed or neutered, while few, if any, animals sold in pet stores are spayed or neutered prior to sale.

This legislation will eliminate the deliberate or accidental breeding of pets adopted from shelters or purchased from pet stores. It is expected that this will diminish the number of animals that enter the shelters. This in turn will allow animals in the shelters a greater chance of finding a new home.

Space is scarce in all shelters. With a daily capacity of just under 1,000 animals, and a daily intake of nearly 150 animals, many dogs and cats at CACC shelters are euthanized for lack of space. Thus the provisions of the bill that require the establishment of full-service shelters in every borough are a welcome opportunity for the city's lost, homeless, and unwanted animals.

Currently, CACC operates full-service shelters in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Since 1997, the City has allocated more than $10 million for capital improvements to these shelters and for the acquisition of a shelter in Queens. Renovations to the Brooklyn shelter were completed in July 1999, and construction on the Manhattan shelter is expected to commence later this year. Site selection is underway in Queens, and will soon commence in the Bronx. Some alterations are contemplated for the shelter in Staten Island. Such borough-based shelters will afford greater opportunities to pet owners to find a lost pet or adopt a new one.

I believe that this legislation is in the best interest of our city and its animals. I am pleased that the Mayor's Office helped draft this important bill and I was pleased to sign it into law.

It is clear that the pet overpopulation program must be tackled. But we must all do our part. Spay or neuter your pets. Make sure all pets - even house cats - have collars and tags or a microchip identification. May is National Pet Adoption Month, so please consider adoption over purchase and encourage friends and family to do so as well. For more information on adopting a shelter pet, call the 24-hour pet adoption hotline at (212) 722-3620.