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 so-called “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, unfortunately, also underrepresented here.
Due to ACC obfuscation and sloppy 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, Sr VP Animal Health & Welfare: Email
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
Lucas [265696]: 3 years old; killed October 18. Lucas was surrendered by his owner. At ACC, he leaned forward for pets and allowed all handling, but meowed in distress. It’s reported that three weeks after his arrival, he was “found dying,” in his kennel, presumably of the upper respiratory infection he had at the time.
Fushi [267541]: 10 years old; killed October 19. Fushi was surrendered with another cat, Butters.
Sweet and timid, Fushi enjoyed pets, cheek rubs, and treats. He had hyperglycemia, possibly due to diabetes. He wasn’t listed for foster or adoption.
ACC killed Fushi on day 11, a silent kill.
Abel [267157]: 6 years old; killed October 20. His family said Abel was a couch potato who loved to give hugs and cuddle.
After six years being a family dog, he bit. They left no details on what happened. They also said that Abel had no behavior concerns; he was “the best.” When Abel came to ACC he had a fractured tooth. He was scared.
ACC made notes on him on only two occasions, 10 days apart. On the first entry they reported he was trembling, on the second, growling. Their notes never mention an attempt to leash him or take him on a walk. Did they ever? We know he was TDO [transfer door only] on October 16, never let out of his kennel for walks or potty breaks, and dosed with sedatives in the five days they held him prisoner.
ACC killed Abel on day 19.
Babka [266014]: 1 year old; killed October 22. Babka, a stray, was very scared to come out of his kennel. On his first day, he almost had to be carried into medical but once there they said he became “the biggest mush, so sweet and friendly. Allowed full exam and all tasks. He is an absolute softie.”
A volunteer wrote, “At 78 lbs, with his muscular body and gorgeous tiger-striped coat, Babka might look intimidating. But underneath that tough exterior is a shy, timid boy who’s still learning about the world.
“When I first met Babka, he was scared to leave his kennel. With baby talk and gentle encouragement, he slowly found the courage to follow me. But everything changed when he spotted a tennis ball! This shy boy suddenly came to life, turning into a playful, confident, yet polite fetch champion! He brings the ball right back, even re-tossing it to remind me it’s MY turn to throw! Seeing this complete 180 made me so happy. He’s a smart cookie too! He knows ‘sit,’ ‘paw,’ and ‘other paw,’ and remained well-mannered throughout playtime. Once out of his fear mode, Babka is such a sweet, smart, playful, and polite boy.”
Babka remained nervous during the first few weeks there, but eventually grew to be completely at ease. Easily leashed, he did well on walks, checked in with handlers, and leaned in for pets. He was indeed a very polite puppy.
Babka’s “at-risk” memo — their excuse to kill — says he occasionally refused to go back into the kennel and “fixated” on trash cans, pulling toward them and muzzle punching. Since he was found stray, presumably he knew trash cans were a source of food. Regardless, this “fixation” with trash cans and as well the difficulty returning to kennel ceased after he was there a few weeks.
Still, ACC killed big puppy Babka on day 34.
Enchanted [268359]: 15 years old; killed October 22. Enchanted was a senior kitty who was vision impaired, possibly blind.
She was never listed for foster or adoption, a silent kill. Found with her 12-year-old friend, Fantasy, who at this writing was at ACC.
Punkin’ Puss [267787]: 8 years old; killed mid-October. A silent kill, he was never listed for foster or adoption. He was found on October 9.
Legoland [267796]: 5 years old; killed mid-October. A small dog found on October 9, Legoland was never listed for foster or adoption, a silent kill.
Cherry Blossom [267313]: 3 years old; killed mid-October. Cherry Blossom was a stray dog, found on October 4.
He was never listed for foster or adoption, a silent kill.
There was no photo in his lost and found record.
Roy [132206]: 5 years old; died in care October 23. After a year in foster care, Roy was returned to ACC. His foster wrote, “Regal Roy is a king or maybe just a prince. As the photos show he is handsome, well kept, suuuuper soft and a great pal around my apartment. He’s really good at NOT scratching anything but the sisal cat tree furniture … He’s my little shadow and likes to trill/chat with me sporadically throughout the day.”
A volunteer, who met Roy on his return to ACC writes: “Roy looks around like he’s double checking that it’s ok that he’s here. He wants to fit in and do his best, but seems to always be asking if it’s alright. Our enthusiastic reassurance that we love having him here takes a few moments to click but once it does, Roy demonstrates his well known practice of practically nosediving into our arms. Taking up the space he should, Roy rolls around like a baby seal, reveling in his time as the center of attention. He’s known to be an exuberant playtime enthusiast with a whole roster of fun games he knows and wants to play.“
Roy was at ACC about two weeks before he allegedly died in care. There were no notes regarding any medical issues.
Cookie Butter [265141]: 1 year old; killed October 23. Cookie Butter, a stray, was so happy to get out of his kennel he would sometimes do the zoomies on leash. Being a puppy, he jumped a lot; sometimes he would spin. He was always exuberant, sometimes over-excited, they said, but he would respond to soft voices and listen to verbal cues.
Then one day, after over a month at ACC, Cookie Butter had a bad day. What happened before we don’t know. But in the driveway, he began jumping and thrashing on the leash, screeching and alligator rolling. They called a second handler to help return him to his kennel. Although they said there were no further issues on his return, they didn’t let Cookie Butter out again.
Cookie Butter spent his last week at ACC a prisoner, never let out of his kennel “due to hyperarousal concerns and jumping up/vocalizing when returning to kennel.” ACC already had him on two sedatives, Clonidine and Trazodone, which seems apparent on his video above, where he is not the “aroused” dog they describe.
They added Gababentin. No doubt, it took all three sedatives to keep an active puppy locked up for a week without walks or human contact. They made no notes on Cookie Butter during his week-long confinement. We’re left to wonder how he felt.
ACC killed Cookie Butter on day 42.
Dunkin [260793]: 2 years old; killed October 23. How do you kill a much loved dog who has been in your shelter for 90 days? Why would you kill him?
Everyone loved Dunkin, a gentle stray, He was scared at first. You can see the stunned look in his photo. But he got braver. A volunteer wrote, “This gorgeous, lively 2 yr old pup has gained so much confidence since he first arrived — much easier to leash and no more hackles up in the hallway — and now his exuberant self just wants to explore and run and exercise those long legs … His joy is contagious!”
Another said, “I just absolutely love Dunkin. I always look forward to seeing him. I cannot walk by his pop up crate without giving him treats. When ready for our walk together, Dunkin gracefully walked out and immediately snuggled up to my side. We didn’t take long to connect. As we walked together it was impossible not to gaze deeply into his soulful eyes and adorable pout and then, of course, give him all the treats I had!“
Here’s what ACC wrote about why they killed Dunkin: “Dunkin has been observed to be reactive while on leash. In the kennel room Dunkin is observed to pull hard towards the other dogs. In one instance while walking through the hallway, Dunkin was noted to growl and lunge towards a person. With handlers, Dunkin is receptive to treats and pattern games. Medically Dunkin is underweight.”
It doesn’t make any sense. And that’s the point. None of it makes any sense. ACC killed Dunkin on day 90.
Julian [268515]: 9 years old; killed October 24. Julian was a sick, scared senior pup. In the brief time he was at ACC he gave no trouble.
With baby talk, Julian was easily coaxed out of the kennel for a walk. He walked by the handler’s side, though sometimes fell behind as he was old and sick and walked slowly.
He may have had Cushing’s disease, but ACC didn’t know because they didn’t do the diagnostics to find out. They left that to the rescue organization that might save him. If no one came forward, they would kill him. This is typical for sick animals in ACC’s “care.”
ACC set out their plan quite clearly. They wrote that he would go on the “at-risk” list just once and then if not placed, two days later “proceed” to kill command so they could “euthanize” him. That’s precisely what happened.
ACC killed Julian on day 12. They did nothing to try to help him.
Which is just how Mayor Mamdani and Speaker Menin want it.
