Animal Care Centers of NYC suspends intake as number of shelter pets hits bursting point

Nicholas Williams and Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News on Jul 19, 2025

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NEW YORK — For the first time in Animal Care Centers of NYC’s history, the organization will have to turn away sheltering animals as it has reached full capacity at all of its sites and can’t take in any more pets, ACC said Saturday.

Although it will be suspending general intake, ACC will remain open for adoptions, plus drop-off of animals that require emergency medical care or that pose a public safety risk and those being dropped off by government agencies. ACC called its reaching maximum capacity a “crisis” as it has surpassed 1,000 animals in its care and is out of space to take in any more, despite more pets arriving every day.

The 1,000th pet, which was taken in on Thursday by the organization, was a dog named Rocky, said to be 10 to 13 years old. Rocky was reportedly nervous entering the new environment after having lived with his family for the past seven years.

Rocky was among 382 adult dogs in ACC’s care, along with 13 puppies, 383 cats, 163 kittens, 47 rabbits, 12 guinea pigs and several birds. ACC also currently has 290 pets in foster care, with 180 available for adoption directly from their foster homes, a spokesperson told The New York Daily News.

“It’s the worst it’s ever been,” an ACC source told the Daily News of the capacity crisis.

The cause of one of every three pets being given over to ACC this year is housing insecurity, with their owners having to relocate to a smaller place and unable to take care of their pet or moving out of the city because of the high cost of living and being unable to take their pet with them, according to ACC studies.

As the source put it, the city’s animal shelter overload is partly being driven by the fact that “people are broke and can’t afford to live in the city.”

And, of course, pets simply require a certain amount of time and care.

“We hear it every day: ‘I just don’t have time anymore,”” the ACC spokesperson said. “But your pet doesn’t need all your time — just a little effort, a little care, and the chance to stay in the home they love.”

In addition to adopting pets, ACC is urging pet owners to re-home their animals if they can no longer care for them — and also to just “try to figure out a way to keep your pet.”

The housing crisis comes amid two recent discoveries of scores of neglected dogs jammed into decrepit homes that ACC had to rescue.

Last month, 80 matted, neglected and malnourished dogs were pulled out of a filthy Brooklyn home after their 73-year-old owner died.

One of the pooches was giving birth to puppies as police and animal rescue groups went room by room, recovering scores of dogs from the E. 66th St. home near National Drive in Mill Basin.

“ACC has just begun another massive rescue effort, this time in a Brooklyn apartment where we estimate 80+ dogs will need to be removed after their owner was found deceased,” ACC said on Instagram as the agency posted photos of dogs of different breeds cowering in every corner of the home and among massive bags of dry dog food.

“Many are severely matted, most appear sick, and one was actively giving birth as our team arrived. All have been living in unimaginable filth,” the agency posted.

In May, more than 40 maltreated Belgian Malinois dogs were found jam-packed in a cramped, filthy Queens apartment, sparking an animal cruelty investigation. The small Rego Park home was crowded with canines cowering in every corner, even in closets and kitchen cupboards, ACC said.

Community tips led animal rescuers to the apartment, on 62nd Rd. near Yellowstone Blvd., officials said.

“These dogs have reportedly lived in total confinement for their entire lives,” said Tara Mercado, ACC’s director of behavior and shelter operations. “We found full-grown Malinois hidden in cabinets and crammed behind furniture.”

The pooches were transported to the Queens ACC center. They didn’t appear starved or malnourished, ACC officials said.

Police sources said that 48 dogs were found in the apartment. At least three had to be euthanized at the scene because they were in such poor health, the sources said.

Amid the ongoing animal shelter crisis, ACC is encouraging New Yorkers to adopt pets. It’s holding adoption events in Brooklyn along with the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Spot Brooklyn, at 232 Varet St. Each pet comes vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered, if applicable.

Adopters can also view some of the homeless pets on the NYCACC app.