Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced a $1 million renewal 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).  The continued support from the ASPCA has helped New York City rescue and care for homeless and abandoned animals until loving owners can be found.  Over the last 9 years, pet adoptions have increased by 108 percent. 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 dogs currently available for adoption at the ASPCA and AC&C.

"Today the ASPCA has honored us with a $1 million grant to continue saving at-risk pets in our City, 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."

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 pet owners.

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

"New York City's euthanasia rate for companion animals is at its lowest in history," said 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."

The 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 shelters to groups and organizations that can guarantee placement.  In 2009, APOs pulled 17,641 dogs and cats from 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 the City's shelter system 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 and 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."

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.  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 in 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.