New dog shelter building originally designed for 72 dogs now houses over double that number within just one month.
The $75 million animal shelter in Queens, which is the borough’s first public shelter, was intended to increase adoption rates and make animals more appealing to potential owners. The facility boasts spacious kennels for dogs, a skylight in the adoption room, dedicated cat rooms, high ceilings, and modern veterinary facilities including a dental clinic. However, even before its official opening in late July, the shelter encountered challenges.
The 50,000 square-foot building, designed for 72 dogs, was asked to accommodate 77 dogs from a Brooklyn shelter that closed for renovations. Councilman Robert Holden, who represents a neighboring area, received distressing photos showing dogs confined in small, dirty kennels with empty food and water dishes. Upon visiting the shelter, he was met with loud barking, foul odors, leaking roofs, poor ventilation, and malfunctioning equipment.
This situation in Queens reflects a larger crisis in the city’s animal shelters. A continuous influx of animals in need of homes, combined with low adoption rates, is pushing shelters to their limits.
Source: The NY Times
