ASPCA Providing Emergency Assistance to Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) to Help Alleviate Pressure on City’s Shelter Operations

Amid ongoing capacity issues at ACC, the ASPCA is expanding its multi-faceted collaboration to transfer cats with medical and behavioral needs to the ASPCA Adoption Center, transport cats to other shelter partners, and provide staffing support to assist with daily care at city shelters

NEW YORK – As Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) continues to navigate ongoing capacity issues, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is providing emergency support to help move the cats most in need out of city shelters. To help alleviate pressure on ACC’s shelter operations, the ASPCA is transferring cats with medical and behavioral needs to the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City and coordinating transports of ACC animals to other shelter partners, providing $25,000 in stipends to help shelter partners provide specialized care to cats with unresolved medical and behavioral challenges. Additionally, the ASPCA is sending its own staff to assist with daily care onsite at ACC’s shelters in Manhattan and Queens.

“The challenges facing ACC — staffing and veterinarian shortages, too few adoptions — mirror what we’re seeing in shelters nationwide,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO. “The ASPCA is proud to support our longtime partners by providing additional targeted resources and expertise to help animals with specialized medical and behavioral needs, allowing ACC to focus their efforts on helping more dogs and cats across the city. We urge the public to join us in supporting ACC by adopting, fostering or volunteering to help more animals find loving homes.”

The ASPCA partners and collaborates with hundreds of shelters and rescues nationwide, working together to help save and improve the lives of animals in communities throughout the U.S., including ACC in New York City. The ASPCA has provided over $10.6 million in grant funding to ACC – including over $1 million since December 2024 – to advance ACC’s efforts to reduce euthanasia, increase adoption and placement numbers, and improve access to care for the city’s most vulnerable animals.

Through its close relationship and ongoing support of ACC – the only open-admission shelter serving all five boroughs – the ASPCA helps ACC animals who often experience longer stays due to their behavioral and medical needs, while also providing grant funding for ACC’s innovative programs, veterinary care for owned animals in underserved communities, and spay/neuter services. Since launching in 2014 to support ACC’s capacity, the ASPCA Kitten Nursery has served as the city’s first and largest high-volume kitten nursery dedicated to the care and treatment of neonatal kittens who are often too young to survive on their own, providing lifesaving support to over 12,000 kittens in New York City.

“We’re deeply grateful to the ASPCA for stepping up in such a meaningful way during one of the most challenging times in our organization’s history,” said Risa Weinstock, President and CEO of Animal Care Centers of NYC. “The ASPCA has always answered the call when New York City’s animals need them most, and this latest support helping us care for our most vulnerable animals and providing boots-on-the-ground staffing is no exception. Partnerships like this are essential to our mission and make it possible for us to continue serving animals with the urgency and compassion they deserve.”

This year, ACC is participating in The Rescue Effect – the ASPCA’s national campaign helping more animals find homes. Launching on August 1 and continuing through Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in October, over 550 shelters and rescues nationwide are joining the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect campaign to engage more adopters and reduce the time animals spend waiting for adoption. As part of The Rescue Effect, the ASPCA is providing $2 million in grant funding to more than 100 of the participating shelters – including ACC – to help waive adoption fees and support operating costs.

ACC will be holding a fee-waived adoption at their Manhattan shelter on Saturday, August 2, using ASPCA provided funds to waive adoption fees. The public is encouraged to support ACC by adopting, fostering, or volunteering to help more animals find loving homes.

For more information about the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect campaign and to find a participating shelter or rescue, visit aspca.org/therescueeffect. Join the conversation on social media by using #TheRescueEffect and tagging the ASPCA or spread the word with one of the ASPCA’s GIFs to encourage others to adopt a pet.