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Help Pets Before They Enter Crowded Shelters

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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site

Shelters are crowded, veterinary care is expensive, and too many dogs and cats enter the system because help comes too late.

Close-up of a black-and-tan dog inside a kennel, looking toward the camera with its mouth open.

New York City has an Animal Population Control Program designed to reduce the number of unwanted stray dogs and cats by helping residents access no- and low-cost spay/neuter services.1 But a 2026 review by the New York City Comptroller found that the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has not been proactive in pursuing animal population control.

The review found that DOHMH relied only on dog-licensing surcharge revenue, did not seek other public or private funding, and limited reimbursement largely to one contract.1

That narrow approach had real consequences. The Comptroller found that DOHMH collected only $950,819 in dog licensing surcharges between fiscal years 2022 and 2024, far below the $1.5 million expected. As a result, the ASPCA performed 6,733 sterilization surgeries from fiscal years 2023 through 2025, 3,927 fewer than anticipated under the contract.1

Shelters Are Paying The Price

The same review found that 44,381 dogs and cats entered Animal Care Centers of NYC shelters from fiscal years 2023 through 2025. Of those, 25,781 were strays, and 18,293 were relinquished by their owners. Cats made up 28,168 intakes, far more than the 16,213 dog intakes.1

Overall, 4,149 dogs and cats were shelter-euthanized during that period, according to the Comptroller’s review of ACC data.1 In July 2025, ABC7 New York reported that Animal Care Centers of NYC had more than 1,000 animals in care and suspended non-emergency pet intake because of critical capacity issues.4

New York City cannot adopt its way out of this alone. Dogs and cats need help before they become shelter statistics.

Spay And Neuter Funding Must Expand

NYC Health says spaying and neutering pets helps reduce pet overpopulation and that city funds support contracted free and low-cost services through the ASPCA.3 The City Council also approved $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 funding for a program expected to support 3,500 cat surgeries for rescue, Trap-Neuter-Return volunteers, and pet owners.2

That is progress. But the Council itself said the new program addresses only a fraction of the citywide need.2

New York City should fully fund high-volume spay/neuter access, support community cat programs, expand appointments across all boroughs, reimburse more qualified providers, publish performance data, and help low-income pet owners keep animals out of shelters.

Sign now to urge New York City leaders to fully fund spay/neuter access and protect dogs and cats before shelters run out of space.

More on this issue:

  1. New York City Comptroller, Office of the New York City Comptroller (8 May 2026), "Review of the City’s Animal Population Control Efforts."
  2. New York City Council, New York City Council (25 September 2025), "NYC Council Approves $500,000 in Funding for New Program That Can Be Citywide Model to Expand Affordable Spay and Neuter Services, Helping Low-Income Cat Owners and Reducing Cat Overpopulation Problem."
  3. NYC Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Accessed 14 June 2026), "Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinics."
  4. Eyewitness News, ABC7 New York (21 July 2025), "'This is a crisis': Overcrowded Animal Care Centers of NYC suspends pet intake."
  5. BK Reader Staff, BK Reader (26 September 2025), "NYC Enlists Brooklyn Nonprofit to Expand Cat Neutering Services."
  6. ASPCA, ASPCA (Accessed 14 June 2026), "U.S. Animal Shelter Statistics."

The Petition

To the Mayor of New York, Members of the New York City Council, and DOHMH officials,

I urge New York City to fully fund and expand no- and low-cost spay/neuter services for dogs and cats.

New York City already has an Animal Population Control Program meant to reduce the number of unwanted stray dogs and cats by helping residents access affordable sterilization services. But a 2026 review by the New York City Comptroller found that the program is too limited, too narrowly funded, and not proactive enough to meet the city’s need.

The review found that DOHMH relied only on dog-licensing surcharge revenue, did not seek additional public or private funding, and performed far fewer surgeries than anticipated under its contract. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of dogs and cats entered city shelters from fiscal years 2023 through 2025, including thousands of owner-relinquished pets and more than 25,000 strays.

This is a preventable crisis. Shelters should not be forced to absorb the consequences of underfunded veterinary access. Low-income pet owners should not have to choose between basic care and surrender. Community cat rescuers should not have to rely on personal funds and scarce appointments to prevent more litters.

Please fully fund high-volume spay/neuter services, expand access across all boroughs, support Trap-Neuter-Return programs, reimburse more qualified nonprofit clinics and private veterinarians, increase public outreach, and publish transparent program data so New Yorkers can see whether the city is meeting the need.

The City Council’s $500,000 investment in cat spay/neuter services is a meaningful step, but it must become part of a broader citywide strategy. The city needs sustained funding, measurable goals, and a clear plan to reduce shelter intake before animals arrive in crisis.

Spay and neuter access is not an optional animal welfare service. It is prevention. It keeps pets with families, reduces the number of unwanted litters, supports shelters, and protects dogs and cats from suffering.

Please fully fund New York City’s spay/neuter program and build a humane prevention system that matches the scale of the problem.

Sincerely,

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