Where do abandoned pets go?

"Nearly $12 million in capital funds for the shelters is sitting in the city budget." said Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Queens). But, according to animal advocates the city Health Department fails to fund services for stray animals properly. As a result of that broken promise many homeless dogs and cats are dying.

The law from 2000 mandates that each borough have its own full-service animal shelter by 2002. The deadline was extended to 2006, but no new sites have been purchased or renovated since.

Animal Care & Control of New York City is the largest pet organization in the North East. With an estimated number of 44,000 animals rescued each year, they have been responsible for shelter system in NYC, rescuing, caring, and finding homes for homeless and abandoned animals. They are also the only organization in the city required to take in all stray and unwanted animals. At the moment thay have shelters in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Manhattan, but Queens and the Bronx are not that lucky. In these boroughs AC&C has a small part-time receiving centers with not enough space, food and equipment.

"We welcome suggestions for appropriate space as we recognize the need for spay/neuter facilities in these communities, particularly in the Bronx," the Health Department said in a statement.

According to reports shelters took in more than 39,000 unwanted dogs and cats, and euthanized more than 15,000 of them, last year only. Many of them were killed because of lack of space and food and because not enough people were coming forward to give them new homes, officials said.

I read something on AC&C website that really caught my attention. "Homeless pets are a huge problem" Maybe it's just me but once they are homeless they are not pets anymore, are they? As said as it is, that is the truth. And if you really think about it the problem goes beyond space and food for these animals. People leaving them in the street after a year or two are much bigger problem. I cant say that I see the solution except bigger and better shelter facilities, but still, it makes me wonder what can we do to stop people from abandoning their once wanted pets?