The Weekly Carnage: July 20, 2026
Names, images and stories of adoptable cats and dogs recently exterminated by Animal Care Centers of New York City.
The Scoop New York is an indie non-profit web site and newsletter covering the movement for a true no-kill New York, from BUF to BK.
We take names. We step on toes. We bring receipts.
NYC ACC KILLS, published by TSNY, enumerates and memorializes adoptable cats and dogs who were nonetheless exterminated by Animal Care Centers of New York City.
Every week, NYC ACC KILLS subscribers receive The Weekly Carnage: bios, photos and videos of adoptable cats and dogs known to be recent ACC victims. Subscribers also get monthly memoriam posts that include ACC data summaries along with an updated compendium of animals whose lives were ended by ACC that month. Videos from current and prior months may also be found on The Scoop New York’s YouTube channel.
For more New York companion animal news, follow NYC ACC KILLS and The Scoop New York on social media.
About NYC ACC KILLS memoriam posts
Like virtually all New York City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin, NYC ACC staff as a rule do not respond to uncomfortable questions concerning the kill pound they’re responsible for. Information in NYC ACC KILLS memoriam posts, therefore, is drawn from reader tips, records ACC has chosen or is required to make public, and the ACC “at-risk outcomes” list.
As evidenced by its monthly and annual outcome data reports, ACC kills far more cats and dogs than appear on the at-risk list. ACC exterminates many healthy and adoptable cats and dogs without first offering them for adoption. Victims of this practice are known among advocates as “silent kills.”
Under direction from higher-ups including chief DVM Robin Brennen, ACC will often spay or neuter a cat or dog only to exterminate her or him during recovery, or soon after. This practice is known as “spay-neuter-kill.”
Known silent kills and spay-neuter-kill victims are identified as such by NYC ACC KILLS.
Since cats are underrepresented on ACC’s “at-risk outcomes” list, they are also underrepresented here.
Due to ACC obfuscation and gaps in record-keeping, memoriam posts are, sadly, bound to be incomplete. The Scoop New York continually adds names and images of ACC victims to NYC ACC KILLS as we find them. Follow NYC ACC KILLS and The Scoop New York on social media for updates.
If you’re an NYC ACC networker or volunteer and would like to contribute information on exterminated cats and dogs, or share your experience working with ACC, we want to hear from you. Discretion guaranteed.
A note about names: Many animals come to NYC ACC with unknown histories, including their names. In addition, ACC does not always use the name a cat or dog is accustomed to, even if the agency knows what it is. As a result, many animals exterminated by ACC are never properly identified. Unfortunately, for the most part NYC ACC KILLS has only the names provided by ACC, even if those names are incorrect or nonsensical. ACC-assigned names are presented here without quotation marks unless TSNY can confirm an animal was known by a different name when admitted to ACC.
ACC operates under putative supervision by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which endorses the publicly-funded killing of healthy and adoptable cats and dogs at will and with impunity.
CHIEF NYC ACC VETERINARIAN
Robin Brennen, Senior VP, Animal Health & Welfare: Email 1, 2
OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR NYC ACC OVERSIGHT
NYS Ag Commissioner Richard Ball: 518-457-2771; Email
Mayor Zohran Mamdani: Contact form
City Council Speaker Julie Menin: 212-788-7210; Email
Council health chair Lynn Schulman: 212-788-6981; Email
Comptroller Mark Levine: 212-669-3916; Contact forms
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams: 212-669-7250; Email
City Council members: Lookup
Borough presidents: BX; BK; MN; SI; QS
NYC DOH Commissioner Alister Martin: 311; Contact form
NYC DOH ACC minder Corinne Schiff: 646-632-6496; Email
In memoriam
Hockey [245633]: 2 years old; killed July 13. Hockey was beloved by volunteers. “Besotted,” said one.
Hockey had been at ACC twice this year. In March, was given a kill command and the owners who had surrendered him reclaimed him. At the end of April he was back again, this time found stray. When Hockey was once again labeled at risk of euthanasia, a volunteer wrote, “I can’t believe it! He is such a gentle soul … I do not recognize the dog described in his profile.”
This volunteer, who walked Hockey often, writes on different occasions: “This guy is so gentle, so affectionate … a pup who loves human contact and physical touch: gazing up adoringly at you on your walks, proactively sitting for treats, soliciting pets, leaning into you, sitting on your feet. Seeing his big smile can make your day.” They wrote that on walks, “He kept close, constantly looking up for reassurance, a pet or a treat. He leans into you, whether waiting for the light to change or just hanging out on a bench, often choosing to sit on your feet.”
He also loved treats, “Which he will sit for and look up at you adoringly while you produce one. Hockey takes treats very gently. He also adores squeaky toys, which are almost as fabulous as treats.”
“This boy is such a big love, with the best smile in the business,” she wrote on another occasion. “You just want to hug him all the time.”
ACC killed Hockey on day 80. A networker who tries to help dogs find homes, wrote, “The 1st time I posted him was 1/20/26. I always think of his little girl, who read to him & shared her bed. I imagine loved him as I did my dog as a child … Tonight when you gaze up [at] the stars, Hockey will be the brightest one.”
His besotted volunteer, who gave Hockey so much love in the months he was at ACC, wrote: “He needed a hero today. So upsetting. You deserved better. So much better. RIP sweet boy.” She pinned a photo of Hockey to her profile.
Dior [254942]: 2 years old; killed July 13. Dior’s family was deported. She was very scared at first, often trembling, but soon grew more confident.
“Dior is just a joy,” a volunteer said. “She is large, jowly, and so very sweet. We quickly learn Dior knows all the tricks — sit, down, paw, and even a crowd favorite, roll over! She easily flops onto her back, waiting for her congratulatory belly rubs. She tips the scale at 85 pounds, but is demure and gentle enough to pass for less … When we meet her, she has had some time to acclimate to her new surroundings and seems very brave, soft, and social. She plays with toys, snuggles, and snacks.”
Once she got over her initial fear, Dior ticked every box for model behavior — was easily leashed, did well on walks, was social with handlers, and enjoyed enrichment games.
ACC’s “at-risk” memo — wherein Dr. Robin Brennen and company make their sorry attempts to explain away elective killings — lists behaviors noted during the first week Dior was there.
That the memo doesn’t match notes they took in subsequent weeks is of no consequence. ACC killed Dior on day 55. Because it was easier than doing their jobs, and because no city politician was about to stop them.
Milo [257365]: 3 years old; killed July 13. Milo spent most of his time in a basement with an owner who yelled at him and when he responded by nipping, dumped him at ACC with a fractured tooth.
He was scared; the photo of Milo’s face says it all.
A shy pup, he wiggled and wagged at ACC. Took treats gently. Wasn’t good enough.
ACC killed Milo on day 29.
Cottage [257099]: 2 years old; killed July 15. Cottage, a stray, came to ACC wiggling, seeking affection.
A volunteer said, “Cottage is a curious girl, and I love that about her. At first she had a hard time focusing — from the play yards she can see the bustle of the street and hear all the noises, as well as the barking dogs in kennels just beneath us. So we give her a little time to acclimate and wonder if this big girl may like to cool off in the pool. As I fill it she comes to sniff at the hose, inspecting something that may be new to her. We guide her into the pool and from then on she stays in it, pawing at balls and otherwise just taking in the world. I love how it slows her down and relaxes her and I hope she gets more experiences like this forever.”
She didn’t. ACC killed Cottage on day 34
ACC victim-blamed in her “at risk of euthanasia” memo: “Cottage has not adjusted well in the care center environment and is noted to show leash biting behavior and become mouthy towards handlers. Pants when going back into to kennel.” That’s all it takes to warrant a death sentence at ACC.
Frappe [258760], age unknown; killed July 15. Frappe, a dog of unknown age, was found on July 2. He was never listed for foster or adoption and killed on day 14, a silent kill.
When asked, ACC said they decided not to place him because of the severity of his dog reactivity. Look at his photo, thin and wounded. Possibly ill. How bad could his dog reactivity be?
Hanifa [255745]: 10 years old; killed July 16. Hanifa arrived at ACC after his human passed away.
A volunteer wrote that Hanifa “was shy, tentative in his moves, a calm and quiet soul with saucer eyes [that] I totally fell in love with. Never heard a hiss, never saw a swat with this kitty. He is VERY endearing. One of the vets absolutely loves him too.” And later: “Hanifa is not shy anymore. He does sit in his cubby but comes forward, purrs, leans into pets and likes to be kissed. He is sooo cute ... even with his serious face.“
ACC killed Hanifa without warning on day 49, a silent kill.
Hercules [258836]: 2 years old; killed July 16. Hercules was found on July 2 and killed day 15. ACC never listed him for foster or adoption, a silent kill.
When asked, ACC said he was approved for no placement because of his bite history. What history? He was a stray.
Seal [256101]: 1 year old; killed July 16. Seal arrived at ACC as a stray, was social and cooperative.
A staff member wrote about their experience with Seal: “Seal was easily carried in and out of his upper kennel. In the backyard, he quickly perked up when he saw the tennis balls. He enjoyed chasing them, tossing them around, and bringing them back to me. Seal sits for treats and takes them gently. He jumped up on me a few times when excited to show me the ball he brought back, but it was friendly and brief. He can be a bit mouthy when excited, but given his puppy age, it felt manageable and redirectable. Overall, Seal was a very happy, wiggly, playful boy.”
Nervous around the other dogs there and still a puppy, learning his manners, ACC killed Seal on day 45.
Kowalski the Smartest [257638]: 2 years old; killed July 16. Kowalski the Smartest arrived a stray with an inflamed and painful eye injury Team Brennen didn’t treat topically due to his “behavior.” Instead, they pumped him with sedatives.
Kowalski hated being trapped inside a kennel, did better outside and became relaxed and friendly in his dog/dog greet.
A volunteer wrote, “Kowalski the Smartest is the full name given to this boy by the shelter after he arrived as a stray. He’s also the handsomest and wins the best ears category for me too. It’s been under three weeks since he arrived and we only got to meet him this past weekend. Kowalski has struggled at the shelter since the start, and unfortunately deteriorated over time, jumping and screaming while kenneled according to his notes. Out of his kennel I’m happy to see a different boy, albeit still a stressed one. He stands with us, relaxing a bit when we pet him, and nibbling a hot dog we offer him surprisingly gently.“
ACC the Cruelest killed Kowalski the Smartest on day 29.
Mr Rocky [253192]: 4 years old; killed July 16. Mr Rocky was killed on day 80 solely due to “behavior” reported by his owner — behavior reported by a person who abandoned Mr Rocky in their home, leaving him to go some time without food.
“In the care center,” ACC wrote in his “at risk” memo, “Mr Rocky is exuberant and loves to play with staff during his times on walks.” That’s it. Killed for behavior not observed at ACC and reported by an owner who abandoned him — along with six cats — without food. It was Mr Rocky’s second stay at ACC; his owner had surrendered and reclaimed him in 2024.
On intake, Mr Rocky was friendly and social with staff, allowed all handling, sat for treats, and leaned in for pets. He did well in his dog/dog greet and made friends with volunteers. “Mr Rocky has BFF material written all over him,” a volunteer said. “In fact, he’s so best friend coded, he even humors us by dressing in similar outfits to his new volunteer friends! … Mr Rocky has been friendly and easy to handle during this stay in the shelter. He also presents as quite housebroken, nearly always keeping his kennel clean.” Not easy to do when time out of the kennel can be as little as 20 minutes a day.
The things his owner accused him of — resource guarding around food; fearful and defensive behavior when restrained, startled, or groomed; and significant on-leash reactivity toward people, dogs, children, cats, and moving objects, including lunging, growling, hard barking, baring teeth, and lifting his lips — were never noted at ACC.
Foxy [253810]: 2 years old; killed July 17. Foxy, found stray and underweight, was an exuberant, highly social pup who loved people but was reactive to other dogs.
Foxy’s temporary foster wrote: “Foxy is a sweet, affectionate, and fully potty-trained girl who loves spending time with people. She’s calm and well-mannered in the home, enjoys relaxing by your side, and is always happy to soak up attention and affection. Foxy would thrive with an adopter who can continue building her confidence and provide her with a consistent routine. If you’re looking for a loyal companion with lots of love to give, Foxy may be the perfect match for you!”
ACC killed Foxy on day 34, due to alleged reactivity to other dogs.
Abigail [257370]: 1 year old; killed July 17. Abigail, a puppy who had been living in a crate outside due to housing insecurity and restrictions against dogs in her building, was scared, although cooperative, on arrival.
ACC wrote, “This sweet girl is still finding her footing in the shelter, and while new environments can make her feel a little nervous, she has a gentle side that’s worth getting to know ... Give this lovely girl the time she needs and she’ll reward you with a lifetime of quiet companionship.”
Abigail didn’t get time. ACC said she quickly deteriorated (after giving her drugs that can have a paradoxical effect), becoming difficult to leash and occasionally biting the leash.
Abigail was on treatment for CIRDC when ACC killed her on day 32.
Ms Chili Peppa [257657]: 4 years old; killed July 18. Small and shy Ms Chili Peppa arrived stray and quickly became a favorite of volunteers and staff.
“Watching videos of Ms Chili Peppa leaping into the laps and arms and being carried around like a little baby dog is bound to warm any heart,” wrote a volunteer. “Is she an agility dog in the making or just a little girl in a scary place trying to find some comfort? Perhaps a little of both but right now I think more the latter. When I walk into the yard to meet her she’s already on another volunteer’s lap, practically clinging on. She hops off to say hi and then right back on. Her ears are impeccable — a wonder of the natural world even. She’s so tiny — 29 lbs at an estimated 4 years old. Police who brought her in described her as calm, open, and expressive … but she has been scared since being in the shelter. But as you can see when she warms up, she’s social and I bet a lot of fun once she’s decompressed.”
ACC said Ms Chili Peppa wasn’t doing well there due to fear, they excuse they used to kill her. In the notes they made in her last weeks, however, she was reported to be loose and wiggly, easily leashed, did well on walks, checked in with handlers, and continued to jump into laps. She even did very well in her dog/dog greet.
ACC killed Ms Chili Peppa on day 30 for fearful behaviors she was no longer exhibiting.
Red Bull [257635]: 3 years old; killed July 18. On intake, Red Bull, a stray, was wagging his tail, very active, excited, and receptive to human attention. “The most important thing to know about Red Bull, in my professional opinion, is that his little tongue is often sticking just a litttttle bit out of his pouty mouth. This is called a blep, and Red Bull has made it into an art form.
“The second most important thing to know is that he is the smushiest, mushiest mans and we love him a lot. Red was left outside a police station and reported to be friendly. His ACC vet exam notes report that he was easy to examine and ‘very receptive to human attention and affection,’ and ‘very taking of treats.’ He makes the silliest head tilts when we make noises for his attention, making his ears flop about. And when he learns we love his give paw trick, he flings his little paws at my lap trying to find my palm.”
Red Bull, an active pup, was living in a small pop-up crate, against new New York State shelter regulations. ACC reported that Red Bull persistently jumped on handlers during walks. On one occasion he made a small tear in a shirt with his nails.
At some point, ACC made Red Bull TDO (transfer door only). According to ACC, dogs with the status of TDO “cannot be removed from their kennel due to safety concerns for our staff and/or themselves. This could be due to the dog’s history, in-shelter behavior concerns that arise, or if the act of coming out their kennel is causing them more stress.”
A video shows Red Bull, then in a kennel, with a sign that says “No Walks, Transfer Door Only.”
How long he went confined to his kennel, we don’t know. ACC killed Red Bull on day 31.
Yuro [249827]: 2 years old; killed July 18. Formerly known as Coco Puffs, Yuro was at ACC three times since February. The first time, he was surrendered and then reclaimed by his owners. The second time he was found tied to a pole, and when ACC gave him a kill command, reclaimed again.
That’s right: ACC frequently returns dogs to owners who abandoned their pups. Abandoned yet again, the third time Yuro was found stray.
Each time Yuro entered ACC he was social and friendly, playful and wiggly. A high energy pup, he was stressed spending so much time in a kennel. A volunteer wrote, “We had no idea Yuro was a Barkour expert when we first took him out, but we discovered it in no time! He was quick to show us his moves, leaping onto the bench, bouncing off of our bodies and for the grand finale, he zooms repeatedly through our legs. Of course, when we go to capture his best trick he gets camera shy but after many tries, we finally get him whooshing through for a treat or two. After all this play, he’s very happy and needs some help settling down with a little bit of peanut butter. Yuro is a low rider and just about the cutest guy with the most handsome smile and we can’t believe he hasn’t caught the eye of a special family yet.”
Yuro ended up on the “at-risk” list for grabbing the assess-a-hand, biting his leash, and becoming reactive to dogs inside the loud, chaotic “shelter.”
For reacting naturally to his environment, ACC killed Yuro on day 32.
Kingston [253988]: 6 years old; killed July 18. Kingston’s guardian surrendered him because he could no longer afford him. Kingston, they said, could be very active and playful, although sometimes he preferred to be a couch potato. He lived peacefully with a dog and cat. At ACC they said he was highly social, sought affection, and enjoyed enrichment games. He did not like being stuck in a kennel around the clock, surrounded by barking dogs.
A volunteer said, “At 6 years old, I’m sure shelter life is a rude awakening, but like many dogs he’s taking his new reality in stride. I’m quickly enamored with him. His pointed ears and good spirits lift mine. He is thrilled to play, but even more thrilled to wiggle about for butt scratches. His former guardian actually reported butt scratches, cuddles, and watermelon among his favorite things! I love his middle aged temperamen t— just the right amount of energy for most homes.“
ACC neutered Kingston in June and killed him on day 56.
