NYC Cat and Dog Killings Remain Higher Under Mayor Zohran Mamdani
ACC elective killings increased considerably in the first quarter compared to 2025, as Mamdani remains silent.
The Scoop New York is a non-profit website and newsletter covering the movement for a true no-kill New York, from BUF to BK. NYC ACC KILLS, published by TSNY, enumerates and memorializes adoptable cats and dogs who were exterminated by Animal Care Centers of New York City.
The Scoop New York is the only news outlet to consider newsworthy taxpayer-funded cruelty toward homeless companion animals, as well as decades of officials’ deliberate abuse — psychological, physical and financial — of the New Yorkers who care about them.
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Headlines from Buffalo to Brooklyn
It’s May 23, 2026. This is The Weekly Poop.
Animal Care Centers of New York City [sic] continued to outpace 2025 in elective cat and dog killings through the first three months of the year.
As reported this week on NYC ACC KILLS, ACC carried out a total of 758 cat and dog exterminations through March, compared to a total of 672 in the first three months of 2025 — a 13 percent jump. Dog killings over those three months rose year-to-year from 388 to 435, a 12 percent increase. Elective cat killings spiked 14 percent, from 284 to 323.
Contrary to agency propaganda, minus a small percentage of animals admitted in severe, irremediable pain, virtually all cats and dogs killed by NYC ACC are healthy and adoptable when they enter the pound system.
The Scoop New York again asked Mamdani’s press office for comment on the increase in discretionary homeless companion animal killings on his watch. We also asked why Mamdani permits ACC officials to falsely claim the city pound doesn’t kill healthy animals, and if the mayor is OK in general with agencies he’s in charge of lying to New Yorkers.
A year of TSNY queries (including during the mayoral campaign) concerning ACC malfeasance and DOH mismanagement has yielded no responses from the mayor who preaches accountability at every opportunity, and who five months into his term has declined to publicly acknowledge his responsibility for the city’s homeless and abandoned cats and dogs.
Below the fold are excerpts from the NYC ACC KILLS March 2026 memoriam post. Read them and weep.
Clyde [244000]: 5 years old; killed March 15.
Clyde’s owner left him at a police station, saying they could no longer care for him. A volunteer wrote: “When we first met Clyde he had only been in the shelter for a few days. Shy and nervous, he planted himself next to me for cuddles the moment I sat down. He was quiet, but happy to take some snacks and comfort.
“I’m pleased to report that version of Clyde is a distant memory. This past weekend he came roaring into an adjoining yard with his big personality. He ran around with his big floppy body and popped his big nose through the small hole in the door like it was a drive through window — he was fed his snackies.”
Clyde, underweight with a body score of 3/9, was neutered the week of his arrival, a risky procedure for underweight dogs. Clyde was timid but according to ACC, “highly social with staff.”
By the time ACC killed Clyde on day 88, ACC had him on so many sedatives he was drooling and covered with poop, diarrhea being just one of the side effects of the human-grade drugs in Dr. Robin Brennen’s “behavior” kit.
Diamond Princess [244447]: 9 years old; killed March 11.
Diamond Princess was given to her human six months before they surrendered her due to an illness that made them unable to care for her. They said, she’s “playful like a kid,” will play with any toy given to her but particularly likes to steal socks to play tug of war. An affectionate and happy pup, she liked to give kisses and also to dance.
Diamond Princess did well at ACC, noted to be gentle, social, and cooperative. Like her human, Diamond Princess was also sick, had chronic respiratory and ear issues as well as mammary masses that needed to be diagnosed. Instead, ACC killed her on day 56.
Maximite [248434]: 1 year old; killed March 14.
While out on a walk, Maximite slipped his leash and ran up to another dog to play; the dog became defensive and a fight ensued. Both dogs bit but the other dog didn’t have any broken skin. Maximite, however, had puncture wounds and also was stabbed by the other dog’s owner with a knife.
At home, Maximite lived happily with kids and another dog. An affectionate puppy, he was known to be friendly to all, including strangers. His family surrendered him because of a landlord issue.
At ACC, Maximite was a terrified puppy, trembling and flinching, who so clearly no longer felt safe in the world. Unlike almost every dog there, he was relieved after walks to be back in his kennel. He never showed any signs of agression at ACC but bizarrely, ACC wrote, “Maximite was involved in an incident where he bite [sic] and held another dog, but did not break skin. However, this behavior is likely to continue as it has become part of Maximite’s repertoire, and will need careful management to work toward reducing triggers for Maximite and reducing the resulting bites.”
With irresponsible descriptions like that, it would be difficult for Maximite to find a home. But it didn’t matter; ACC didn’t give him time to find one. The good Dr. Brennen and company killed Maximite on day 17.
Taffy [245980]: 5 years old; killed March 6.
A volunteer said, “We meet Taffy on a bitterly cold day. The sidewalks are full of snow and she is reluctant to walk. Eventually, she slowly makes her way to the yard where we are waiting for lots of cuddles. We try to keep her as warm as possible, but she is clearly having a hard time. Taffy came to us when she was found tied up with wounds on her head.
“A good Samaritan brought her into the police station, where she was brought to us. Since then, Taffy has been dealing with a bad case of pneumonia. She has been uncomfortable, prefers to not leave her kennel and often is not eating. We try our best to offer a little bit of comfort and love, and Taffy tries to be a good sport, leaning into us, but she is clearly a girl not made for the winter NYC is throwing us this year.”
On intake Taffy was timid and trembling but trusting and affectionate despite the wounds on the back of her head and between her eyes. Staff at ACC wrote that Taffy was a “clever and enthusiastic pup,” enrolled in their Shelter Scholar program, eager to learn new skills and making good progress.
After all she went through and survived, Robin Brennen’s vet team killed Taffy on day 45.
OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR NYC ACC OVERSIGHT
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
Here’s the latest New York companion animal news:
You can love companion animals or you can love watching their adoptive families terrorized by the government, but not both.
Winograd: Whether team red or team blue, single-party dominance is bad for homeless cats and dogs. (See: Two guesses.)
Related: Pay-to-play Governor Kathy Hochul has burned up so much time appeasing her billionaire paymasters there may not be enough days on the legislative calendar for bills that weren’t shoehorned into the state budget, which is now the latest it has been in decades.
Related: Nassau County adopted a bill that imposes what appear to be significant restrictions on tethering, because Hochul and state lawmakers haven’t passed a tethering bill currently stalled in Albany.
Related: Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti and state Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra announced a couple of animal-friendly state bills that will in all likelihood never see the light of day. But as we know, it’s the press release that counts.
Zohran “Mass Engagement” Mamdani has agreed to field questions from New Yorkers on the radio ... four times a year. But if you’re a fan of shitposts and dick pics, you can find the mayor on Twitch.
Related: There was another collision involving horse carriages in NYC.
If you ever wonder how NYC DOH ACC gets away with operating a kitten/puppy abuse-torture-kill dungeon in one of the richest, kindest cities on the planet (other than single-party dominance), it’s in no small part because “reporters” paid by “news” outlets like Yahoo regurgitate happy talk horse shit like this journalistic felony.
Related: Here are more goddamn lies via Yahoo from the Press-Republican in Plattsburgh, which reported that there are only 21 kill pounds in the state of New York (!) — where, according to the “story,” just 2,200 companion animals were killed in 2025 (!!) — because the money-grubbing investor cult known as Best Friends Animal Society told them so.
Related: You can tell how (un)seriously a news outlet takes an issue when it virtually never reports on that issue without incorporating flippant puns a sixth-grader would be proud of. They can’t not do it.
Fine idea, unfortunate job title: Oneida County has hired its first “animal cruelty coordinator,” assigned to prevent cruelty by developing “a network of resources for things such as transport and housing.”
Every Cat’s Dream, a rescue in Broome County, is shutting down at the end of June after 17 years placing homeless cats and dogs.
A Queens rescue that took in over 100 beagles saved from a Wisconsin research lab says all of the dogs have been or will be adopted.
Finally: Kelsey Kowalski and Buffalo Guinea Pig Mafia Rescue FTW.
Food recalls
FDA announced no pet food recalls this week.
Check here for more info on FDA-announced recalls, and here for details on prior FDA advisories and outbreaks.