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 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, 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
Bento [264339]: 2 years old; killed September 20. Found in a park, Bento stayed with the person who found him for two days. They said he was selective with people but friendly with their resident dog, although he would growl at dogs they passed on walks.
Bento didn’t do well at ACC. He was very scared, often growling and thrashing. They took only one picture (above).
Two days after Bento came to ACC, they made him TDO — transfer door only, which means he was not allowed to leave his kennel for walks or potty breaks. Isn’t that torture for a dog?
It’s probable the first time Bento was let out of his kennel after being made TDO was to walk him to the killing floor, on day 18.
Shadow [257140]: 2 years old; killed mid- to late September. Shadow was surrendered to ACC with a relapsing wound on his neck, possibly a ruptured abscess.
ACC sutured the wound and Shadow went on a trial adoption on September 10. Apparently, it didn’t work out.
Shadow was returned to ACC. Rather than relist him for adoption — rather than meet its obligation as a shelter, in other words — giving him the chance to live a long life in a loving home, ACC poisoned him until dead.
Ducky [264594]: 2 years old; “died in care” September 21. Ducky was a fearful stray cat in ACC, and soon very sick.
Three days after intake, he had a UTI. A week later they noticed he wasn’t eating and discontinued Gabapentin (a sedative routinely prescribed to humans) to “decrease food aversion.” Two days after that, ACC wrote that his UTI was now severe, and that he was emaciated.
After another two days, day 15 of Ducky’s stay at ACC, he was reportedly found dead in his cage. Whatever works.
Friday [264111]: 9 months old; killed September 22. Friday, a stray puppy, was never listed for foster or adoption, a silent kill.
ACC killed Friday on day 21. What happened during the three weeks he was there? Why does ACC think New Yorkers shouldn’t know?
Bourbon Fries [264478]: 3 years old; killed September 23. Stray Bourbon Fries was at ACC long enough to catch CIRDC but not long enough for ACC to find him a home. Easily leashed, he was friendly on intake and continued to be wiggly and wagging, happy to sit next to handlers and get body rubs.
ACC killed Bourbon Fries for “lunging at people in the hallway and while on [the] street.” They recorded this happening on two occasions while on leash.
Of course, given ACC’s track record, its definition of lunging is suspect. The reported “lunging” got Bourbon Fries dosed with the ACC compliance cocktail: human-grade sedatives Gabapentin, Trazodone and Clonidine. It also became ACC’s excuse to kill “Bourbon Fries,” one stray on a very long list of homeless animals shackled with a contemptuous handle, just for kicks.
ACC killed Bourbon Fries on day 19.
Finn [264542]: 6 years old; killed September 23. Finn, his family said, was active and affectionate, used to long walks, and scared of loud noises and strangers.
Understandably, chaos at ACC was hard for him. Easily leashed, he did well on walks. But one bad day on the street — Finn allegedly lunged and snapped at the handler’s clothes — was all it took.
ACC killed Finn on day 19.
Brucie [264071]: 8 years old; killed September 24. Brucie, a stray, sought attention from staff during intake. At first he really didn’t want to return to his kennel, but after a short time was deemed cooperative. Brucie also did well on walks, ignoring passersby and other dogs. Introduced to a dog at a gate greet, he wagged his tail.
On one occasion ACC noted that he “[refused] to walk down the right side of the street, instead he pulls to the left and constantly looks behind himself if walking in the right direction. After walking to the left corner of the street Brucie walks without issue.”
Have these people ever owned a dog?
A senior pup, Brucie didn’t get the respect one might expect from an animal shelter. ACC killed Brucie on day 25.
Kalie [262773]: 5 years old; killed September 24. Kalie lived with a family that included a young child. Her family said she was shy, social, and affectionate, friendly with all.
Kalie had hip dysplasia and arthritis that made walking painful. Her family could no longer could afford her care. ACC determined she needed an orthopedic evaluation and quickly put her on the so-called “at-risk” list. Things got worse when ACC’s ever-present unsanitary conditions caused Kalie to contract CIRDC.
Nervous at ACC, Kalie still leaned in for pets and affection. She sought comfort. Instead, ACC killed Kalie on day 22.
Patsy [266065]: 12 years old; killed on September 24. Found on September 21, Patsy, a large senior stray, was exterminated three days later.
Patsy was never offered for foster or adoption. ACC didn’t even include a photo in her lost and found record.
Hard to find your dog when the “shelter” is too lazy and/or incompetent to post a picture.
Amaru [257299]: 1 year old; killed September 25. Amaru was everything you’d want a puppy to be. And many ACC volunteers can attest to that.
“What a silly, snuggly boy!” wrote one volunteer. “It was joy to spend time with Amaru again. A fine walker in harness, he’s still the good boy who passes other dogs without issue. He’s also the sweetheart who snuggles close, his whole body wiggling with happiness.“
Another volunteer wrote, “Amaru is very enthusiastic and happy to see you at his kennel, as he loves going out for walks. Amaru is easily leashed but exits his kennel a little bit ‘hot,’ due to excitement. But the brilliant thing about this great-looking, 1 yr old, 49 lb boy with epic ears is that he calms down quickly as we walk through the neighborhood. He walks beautifully with a harness, sniffing and exploring …h e simply adores your attention and affection. He also loves to lean into you, hoping to score some pets and butt scratches.”
Taken on a “boroughbreak,” a day long outing, a volunteer said, “Amaru is friendly, curious, playful, and so ready to experience life outside the shelter. He explored Central Park, splashed through a stream, rolled around in the grass, and joined us for lunch at a restaurant where he was an absolute dream. He was calm, polite, and happy to settle beside the table.
“Amaru has plenty of energy for adventures, but once he’s had a little time to decompress, he settles beautifully. He was relaxed around dogs, kids, bikes, traffic, squirrels, and all the usual NYC chaos. He also takes treats incredibly gently and is very happy to show off his tricks for them. Now this happy little goofball needs a foster or adopter to give him a place to land.”
Adorable, beloved Amaru didn’t get a place to land. Instead, ACC killed Amaru on day 67. As one animal advocate and networker wrote, “He died for getting his endo claw caught on a sweater & panicking. He did not bite anyone. In NYC a sweater is worth more than a life.”
Carlito [259778]: 3 years old; killed September 25. Carlito, a stray, was timid amd scared.
A volunteer wrote, “I remember meeting Carlito in late July. He’s a beautiful boy, and our videos confirm that we told him so a million times. His ears are long but in his photos and videos he’s pulled them back, feeling shy and scared, so you’ll have to take my word for it. His eyes are gentle, a gorgeous amber, and he took our treats so gingerly, carefully as if it might be a trick.”
Carlito was cautious, a gentle pup with an unknown history, learning to trust hands and handlers. “While little is known about his past,” another volunteer wrote, “we know he was found with a chain leash that was used to tie him to a fence. His finder said he was friendly when they approached so they put him in their car to bring him to the shelter. He’s been too scared for a full handling assessment, tucking his tail and stepping back when approached, wary of hands moving around him.”
Where volunteers saw a sweet scared dog, what ACC saw was “kennel stress, including barking, jumping at the kennel door, launching off the kennel walls, and difficulty settling. He has also displayed leash biting when being returned to his kennel, but is able to be distracted at times.”
Carlito was a bother to ACC, where he was put to death on day 73.
Carrot Top [260379]: 2 years old; killed September 25. Carrot Top, a stray, came to ACC wiggly and seeking attention. Wiggly she remained — a social girl, much happier outside with people than in a kennel surrounded by barking dogs. When scared, she responded well to baby talk.
Carrot Top was sick at ACC, with the CIRDC all dogs get, but also with inflammation and explosive diarrhea. She was given as many sedatives as they could to make her whatever it was they wanted her to be.
As you can see in her video, Carrot Top played fetch, but as one animal advocate and networker notes, “Baby girl never quite caught the ball, but she tried so hard — little paws flying, tongue out, running like it was the best game ever. She was perfect.”
Perfect she was. ACC killed Carrot Top on day 68.
Bubbles [263053]: 10 months old; killed September 26. Almost every ACC daily note on Bubbles, a stray puppy, says he was exuberant; they often say it repeatedly in one entry. Problem is, ACC doesn’t like exuberant puppies, which they kill regularly.
Social, affectionate, eager to connect. Just 10 months old. He was also nervous there, scared. If Bubbles doesn’t seem exuberant in the video (above), it’s because ACC loaded him with sedatives.
In his “at risk” memo, ACC noted that Bubbles pulled so intensely on the “leash” that at times he “caused himself” to pass out, since after 31 years ACC hasn’t figured out how to walk a dog.
ACC killed puppy Bubbles on day 38.
Bearstein [256919]: 3 years old; killed September 26. Adored by volunteers, Bearstein was kill-listed twice and got reprieves. There would be no third stay of execution.
On Bearstein’s intake, he was shut down and scared. A volunteer wrote, “Bearstein was found tied up on the street and left there. He came into the shelter terrified — flinching, sure the next person would hurt him like the last one did. But he tried anyway. Little by little, he let them close — leaning into their legs, tail wagging, learning to trust people again. He was so close. And then he got sick, and that put him on today’s list. He did the hardest part already. He just needs someone patient enough to let him finish.“
ACC first put Bearstein on the kill list because he got pneumonia. The plucky boy survived and they took him off the list. The second time he was put on the kill list, volunteers took him out to spend the day in the park, knowing he might be killed in the next day or two.
See the video above. Bearstein was reprieved again. Why? He was a darn good dog. Even ACC had to admit that. They wrote, “Once he’s out on a walk, Bearstein is a true gentleman, strolling politely on a loose leash and taking in the world one sniff at a time.”
“A big guy with a big heart” said Bearstein’s staycation buddy. “Bearstein loves to go on long walks and sniff around the city, followed by long naps where he’ll change positions multiple times, each more adorable than the last. He loves chews and frozen Kongs, but most of all he just wants to be near you!”
A volunteer wrote, “This big brown bear of a pup is 3, 63 lbs, incredibly handsome, strong, and curious. He is often relaxed on his walks, enjoys exploring on his sniffaris and can sometimes pull hard when he feels like investigating something off the beaten path.“
Off the beaten path? ACC doesn’t like that.
The much-loved adorable Bearstein, saved from ACC by normal humans twice, was killed on day 108.
Which is just how Mayor Mamdani and Speaker Menin want it.
