Queens animal shelter over capacity and in need of adopters

RIDGEWOOD, Queens (PIX11) — A new city animal shelter in Queens opened a few months ago but faced issues right out of the gate.

The Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center, a 50,000-square-foot facility that first opened at the end of July to the turn of $75 million is already over capacity and in desperate need of adopters.

The shelter has enough space for cats, rabbits, and other animals, but staff hope people will consider adopting a dog for Adopt a Dog Month.

The shelter only has space for 72 dogs but currently houses 150.

Katy Hansen is with Animal Care Centers of NYC, the nonprofit that runs all the city shelters. “Adoptions are waning,” said Hansen. “So it’s not like we’re getting a lot more animals in, they’re just staying longer.”

Hansen says the overcrowding is partially because the agency’s Brooklyn shelter shipped its animals to the Queens location when it closed for renovations.

She adds finances are also an issue for many people. “For the same reason, people are surrendering their animals- financial insecurity – the cost of vets care- people are afraid to bring that commitment in. There’s an expense.”

The shelter has also been dealing with allegations of the animals not being taken care of or dogs being walked enough. The ACC says any early issues that did exist have been dealt with.

Hansen says, “We had room for 70 and staff for 70, we did our best. We’re fully hired now. We weren’t even fully hired. We had to be open otherwise Queens and Brooklyn would have nowhere to go and what would we do with the animals in Brooklyn?”

Queens Councilmember Robert Holden is glad things have improved but still has some concerns about the overcrowding. “Any building that is brand new takes time to get the kinks out so that’s understandable. If you’re going to close a shelter you need swing space. If you close the Brooklyn shelter for 2 years and then overcrowd the other ones, it is not helpful so we need a backup plan.”

The ACC says right now its greatest need is for adoptions. It offers a two-week trial period for anyone interested.

If you can’t commit to an adoption, fostering is also a great option.

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