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Budget, Education & City Services
Proposed ASPCA model Animal Care and Control Legislation
WHEREAS, There exists a serious stray animal and dangerous dog problem in New York City and hundreds of unwanted dogs and thousands of cats continue to wander our streets reproducing at alarming rates; and
WHEREAS, Many of the stray animals suffer from exposure to the elements, disease, lack of food, water, shelter, and veterinary care, mistreatment, vehicular accidents, and the risk of rabies; and
WHEREAS, Many of the dogs that live on the streets have attacked children and the elderly, causing serious physical injury and the possibility of disease transmission; and
WHEREAS, Stray animals pose a serious public health threat and danger to people, children, and other animals; and
WHEREAS, Pet overpopulation continues to plague the city, and thousands of dogs and cats are brought to our city shelters each year, costing New York City residents upwards of $7.5 million to house and euthanize approximately 48% of the animals; and
WHEREAS New York City spends only $0.93 per capita on animal control, one of the lowest in the nation; and
WHEREAS, The pet industry generates approximately $106 million in tax revenues annually for New York City, yet only allocates approximately 7% of these monies on animal control services each year; and
WHEREAS, The city licenses only 10% of the estimated 1 million dogs residing in the city, and is losing close to $8 million in revenue annually to fund its animal control program, and
WHEREAS, Although inroads have been made New York City does not have a comprehensive, adequately funded animal care and control program; and
WHEREAS, The ASPCA proposes legislation calling for increased dog licensing revenue, collection of fines through enforcement, and additional revenue collected from unrelated funding sources; and
WHEREAS, The proposed legislation would also create a new bureau of animal care and control services, animal care officers and establish a comprehensive program; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five supports legislation proposed by the ASPCA that would create animal control officers and fund sufficient levels of services to retrieve animals, maintain shelters in each borough for lost, stray, and homeless animals, license the estimated one million dogs residing in the city, promote and further spaying and neutering of dogs and cats, and help enforce animal neglect laws.
The above resolution passed with a vote of 28 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention.