The Weekly Carnage: May 4, 2026
Names and images of cats and dogs recently exterminated by Animal Care Centers of New York City.
About NYC ACC KILLS memoriam posts
Information in NYC ACC KILLS memoriam posts is drawn from reader tips and the NYC 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 ACC practice are known among advocates as “silent kills.”
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 gaps in NYC ACC record-keeping, memoriam posts are, sadly, bound to be incomplete. The Scoop New York continually adds names and images of NYC 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 with a rescue, or you’re an NYC ACC volunteer, and would like to contribute images of cats and dogs killed by ACC, please contact TSNY.
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.
OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR NYC ACC OVERSIGHT
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
In memoriam
CATS
At publication time NYC ACC KILLS had no information on cats recently exterminated by ACC. Subscribe to receive updated monthly NYC ACC KILLS memoriam posts.
DOGS
Nutcracker [251768]: 2 years old; killed April 26. Petite Nutcracker, a stray, was afraid of the other dogs at ACC, dropping to the ground and laying down when she encountered them. She got into trouble from the start when, at intake, she reacted to a dog and redirected by nipping a staff member; no broken skin. As a result, ACC did not do a handling assessment and seemingly paid little attention to her. Their notes on her are sparse. She was wiggly and happy to see staff, but that wasn’t enough for them to give her a chance to find a home. ACC killed Nutcracker on day 15.
Blaze [251091]: 2 years old; killed April 27. Blaze came to ACC stray, emaciated with a wound and severely overgrown nails that affected his gait. They flagged him for neglect. In the first week there, Blaze continued to lose weight, was lethargic, and had diarrhea. On intake he had been nervous but leaned into pets and during his stay. He continued to seek affection.
“I can see every segment of Blaze’s spine when we meet,” said a volunteer. “He’s outfitted in a harness and I later learn it’s because he was collapsing when walked on a slip lead. His wayward ears move about as we take his photos, and a wound on his nose doesn’t take away from how cute he is. Blaze loves toys, or maybe it’s more accurate to say he finds comfort holding them. A note says that a toy was used to redirect him, and he carried it to the yard where he played and eventually suckled it.”
The volunteer noted Blaze was “stressed by the surrounding barking dogs. He’s also not felt good since he’s arrived, and probably for a long time before that too. Now he’s got kennel cough and his symptoms have worsened in spite of treatment.” Blaze’s CIRDC symptoms continued to worsen, lthough he gained some weight. ACC killed Blaze on day 26 for the all-too-familiar response to stress in a crowded shelter: leash biting.
Snowman [247903]: 11 months old; killed April 27. Still a long legged puppy, Snowman, a very friendly and outgoing stray, was adopted and returned days later. Snowman’s adopter said he was very active and very loving but did not like anyone running by him when out for a walk. Upon return, Snowman remained friendly, allowing all handling on intake. Enrolled in ACC’s Shelter Scholars program, Snowman was learning not to be overwhelmed by sudden movements and strangers. “Making real progress,” according to ACC. Still, ACC killed him on day 48.
Ranger [251305]: 7 years old; killed April 27. When Ranger’s human went to the hospital, they told the police they wanted their dog back.
A volunteer said, “When I met Ranger, I can tell he was once a loved companion. He walks nicely on the leash with me and prefers to carry a toy. We don’t have a lot of information on Ranger but I’m quite sure that if his former owner could, he would say he is a very good boy that deserves a loving and patient home.”
ACC admitted he was very friendly, seeking affection; when they cleaned his ears due an ear infection, he cried but didn’t escalate. Ranger remained loose and wiggly, wasn’t bothered by other dogs.
On day 23, ACC killed Ranger for leash biting.
Pops [252984]: 13 years old; killed April 28. Pops was abandoned at the 119th Precinct on April 26th and killed two days later. A silent kill.
ACC says he had a poor medical condition and prognosis. His records should show him as “humanely euthanized,” which is ACC’s standard designation for all kills. Instead it says “no longer available.”
Yet another error — ACC is notoriously sloppy at record-keeping — or trying to keep Pops’ extermination silent?
Pepper [238716]: 11 months old; killed April 28. Pepper had the misfortune to be at ACC twice in his short life, the first time as a stray 5-month-old puppy. In both cases, he was surrendered due to landlord issues.
“In spite [of] his multiple shelter stays,” a volunteer said, “he’s the sweetest guy around, noodly and wiggly, and always eager to get some love from volunteers…. He is avoidant with other dogs but once comfortable, he will solicit play and be affectionate. He’s described as a social, active and playful dog who tolerates baths and loves going for car rides.”
ACC killed Pepper day 77, for “high arousal” and being mouthy. In other words, like most of their young canine victims, ACC killed Pepper for being a puppy and behaving normally.
Tootsie [251608]: 2 years old; killed April 28. Tootsie’s human said she was very affectionate, sweet, and cuddly, friendly with all. Surrendered because Tootsie nipped their special needs adult child who was being agressive with her and had a history of being rough with her. Her human didn’t blame Tootsie — said she had never bitten or been aggressive with anyone before — but ACC did. Tootsie was killed day 33, not because of anything she did at the shelter but because of “her previous behavior at home.”
A volunteer says Tootsie was very shut down when they first met, “She barely even looks at us, standing still in fear and shock. But weeks later, Tootsie is a different girl. I can tell immediately how much she has blossomed before I even get her out of the crate. She is eager to join me on a walk — tail wagging and loose body language. She is not ready for cuddles yet, but in the yard, opens up and plays a bit. Her zoomies are epic.”
Loafy [252999]: 14 years old; killed April 29. Loafy was found on April 26 and killed three days later. She was never offered for foster or adoption — a silent kill, like so many other victims.
ACC said they “euthanized” Loafy due to medical issues and a bad prognosis. ACC staff lie like normal people breathe.
Charlotte [252211]: 10 months old; killed April 29. ACC killed puppy Charlotte — for leash biting — just 14 days after her owner surrendered her, leaving no notes.
The first few days seemed to go well enough. Charlotte was loose and wiggly, easily leashed. But after a few days at ACC, she was limping with all four paws inflamed and swollen. She didn’t live long enough to get the issue diagnosed.
Charlotte then caught what they all catch: CIRDC. ACC staff never made a video and took only two pictures. They didn’t try at all to place what should be an easy sell: a healthy puppy. Charlotte looks sad and scared in her photo, all her cute puppy eagerness deflated.
Tulip [250471]: 1 year old; killed May 1. “At under 40 pounds, Tulip is about as lap sized as you can get (in our opinion),” said one of the volunteers who loved her. “We dress Tulip up in pajamas, which is fitting for her baby personality. She is sweet, shy and social. She quickly makes her way to a lap, the best place for a pittie in PJs to be. Tulip came in underweight with overgrown nails, but her fur is so so soft [it’s] like she went to a luxury hairdresser.”
Tulip was found wandering in a park when she ran up to another dog and their owner for help. They probably thought they were doing the right thing.
Tulip was highly social with staff and volunteers at ACC, and did well in her dog/dog greet. She loved her toys a bit too much to share them and they were teaching her to drop and trade. She was getting the hang of it.
ACC killed Tulip on day 37 for mouthy behavior and impulse control, things like grabbing a staff’s pants leg for attention. In other words, ACC killed her for being a puppy.
Baby [250135]: 3 years old; killed May 1. Eight dogs were surrendered to ACC by an owner who had terminal cancer. First ACC killed Precious, then Uno, and this week, they killed Baby.
“When we meet Baby, he is a bit shy and aloof,” says a volunteer. “Still, he comes over for petting, wags his tail softly and enjoys all of the treats we have to offer. We see brief glimpses of playfulness when he runs after a ball and retrieves and brings back a stuffy toy. He has the sweetest face, though it’s covered in scars and scabs from a recent scuffle he had with one of his siblings.”
Very sweet, very scared, traumatized by the chaotic removal from his home, Baby tried to rally. He went from trembling and hiding behind handlers and scurrying back into the safety of his kennel when dogs started barking to tentatively beginning to play and appreciating gentle pets. Wasn’t good enough. ACC killed him on day 31.
Merida [253280]: Age unknown; killed during the week of April 26.
Merida was found on April 29. ACC killed her a few days later, never offering her for adoption. Another silent kill.
Lark [242110]: 6 years old; killed during the week of April 26. Lark, a stray, entered ACC on November 20. They say his little snorts earned him the nickname Piglet and he had a sweet personality.
Taken in by a foster, at some point recently he was returned to ACC. Instead of looking for a new foster or adopter, ACC killed him. A silent kill.
April [251102]: 9 years old; killed during the week of April 26. Volunteers said senior April was a professional snuggle bunny, loved meeting new people, and always had a plushie with her for comfort.
Like Lark, April was placed in foster and recently returned to ACC. Instead of finding a new foster or adopter, ACC killed her. Like Lark, a silent kill.
