by Marie Mundaca and Vanessa, Daughter of Satan, Friend of Animals
Area shelters are full to capacity with homeless animals following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. "It seems many people for whatever reason are suddenly "moving" out of the city and cannot take their animals," according to Patty Adjamine, from New Yorkers for Companion Animals (NYCA, website http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/5418/nycaadoptions.html ) Additionally, many pets were rescued from downtown residences affected by the attack and have not been claimed by their owners. The animals, rescued by the Center for Animal Care and Control, are currently being housed and cared for at a number of New York City shelters, including the Center for Animal Care and Control (424 East 92nd St, 212-722-3620 http://www.nycacc.org/ or http://cacc.petfinder.org/ ) and BARC(http://www.barcshelter.org/ ) in Brooklyn (253 Wythe Ave at North 1st St, Brooklyn, 718-486-7489, email: tonybarc@aol.com).
ASPCA humane law enforcement officials, local rescue organizations like NYCA and City Critters (http://www.citycritters.org/), and volunteer vets assisted downtown residents in the days following the attack. Over 300 pets were treated by mobile veterinary units. The ASPCA estimates the attack affected 800 pets, which were killed, orphaned or displaced. The society and New York's Center for Animal Care and Control so far have dealt with about 500 animals, rescuing them from evacuated areas, reuniting them with their owners or finding them foster homes. And local shelters are anticipating an even larger influx of animals as the economy worsens. Vinnie Spinola, of the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition shelter, is concerned about the future, when friends and relatives realize they can no longer care for their loved one's pet. "That's when the biggest need for adoptions will occur."
"It is true that our animal shelters WILL and are being impacted," Ms Adjamine of NYCA stated. " Many pets whose guardians might have perished and who are being cared for now by families, room mates, neighbors or friends may be later given up when caregivers run into the possible "allergies, moving, traveling, no time for" problems. Pets are abandoned as the economy tanks and people are forced to leave expensive apartments in NYC or turn in animals because they can't afford them."
If you can adopt a pet, this would be a great time to do it. Please visit the Petfinders, NYCA, CACC and BARC websites, go to your local Petco, or visit the Center of Animal Care and Control or BARC. You can also foster a pet for a short time, or go help walk dogs, or donate money.
Petfinders: http://www.petfinders.org
BARC: 253 Wythe Ave at North 1st St, Brooklyn, 718-486-7489, http://www.barcshelter.org/ Monday-Saturday 10:30AM-7PM and Sunday 12-5 PM.
Center for Animal Care and Control: 424 East 92nd St, 212-722-3620 http://www.nycacc.org/ or http://cacc.petfinder.org/
City Critters:212-252-3183 , http://www.citycritters.org/ adoptions Saturday and Sunday noon to six at Petco (Kips Bay) 560 Second Avenue (at 31st St.)
New Yorkers for Companion Animals: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/5418/nycaadoptions.html adoptions (Monday - Saturday) at "Dogs, Cats and Co." 208 East 82nd street. The hours are 11AM - 7:30PM. Cats for adoption at PET STOP, 564 Columbus Ave (88th St) on Saturdays from 1PM- 5:30.