Tuesday: Rally for Abused Animals at Rochester Kill Pound
Three years into his first term, Mayor Malik Evans has ignored longstanding problems at Rochester Animal Services.
The Scoop New York is a newsletter dedicated to companion animals and the New Yorkers who care for them, from Buffalo to Brooklyn. NYC ACC KILLS, published by TSNY, enumerates and memorializes adoptable cats and dogs who were nonetheless exterminated by Animal Care Centers of New York City.
Headlines from Buffalo to Brooklyn
It’s October 18, 2024. This is The Weekly Poop.
This week, advocates in Rochester are preparing for next Tuesday’s City Hall rally aimed at prodding Mayor Malik Evans to address longstanding health and safety issues at Rochester Animal Services.
Protest plans were preceded by a video, taken by a whistleblower on staff, that showed dogs living in waste-covered kennels at the city-operated kill pound. As longtime RAS observers made clear, deplorable conditions documented in the video are more rule than exception. RAS is starved for funds and personnel — issues that Evans, who’s been mayor close to three years now, has had ample time to confront — and the cats and dogs entrusted to the facility are suffering and at constant risk of illness.
The Evans administration, unfortunately, lacks the will to do much of anything for Rochester’s homeless companion animals. Even so, Evans is up for reelection next year. If he wants advocates who helped him win four years ago to knock doors and make calls in 2025, he will have to do more than make promises he does not intend to keep.
Multiple TSNY requests for comment from Evans went unreturned.
Evans isn’t the only political entity neglecting their responsibilities to RAS and its vulnerable clientele. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is charged with overseeing animal control facilities statewide. In 14 years of state inspections, RAS received just two demerits. Both were for what amounted to clerical issues. Though several reports note needed (and, eventually, completed) repairs and improvements, never since 2010 has the state given RAS an unsatisfactory grade due to physical facility conditions.
The Scoop New York also reached out to the New York State Animal Protection Federation, a lobbying group that represents staff and managers of animal control agencies, including RAS, in Albany. APF Executive Director Libby Post acknowledged the TSNY query but did not answer our questions.
“For the last three years Voiceless of Verona Street has been advocating for positive change at Rochester Animal Services,” said advocate and VVS founder Maggie Cain, who addressed Rochester City Council members at a Thursday public input session, in a statement to TSNY. “Mayor Malik Evans and his appointee Shirley Green [the parks department director, who oversees RAS for the Evans administration] continue to turn a blind eye to the underfunded, understaffed and overcrowded shelter.”
Cain and other advocates will convene Tuesday, October 22, outside Rochester City Hall at 30 Church Street, from 5 to 7 p.m.
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Here’s the latest New York companion animal news:
New York City health commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan, who for three years seemed to think keeping watch over NYC ACC was a different commissioner’s job, moved up his effective resignation date to today.
New Yorkers are transporting homeless animals out of hurricane-impacted areas and placing them with former service members.
Related: The Times ran a “storm pet” FAQ.
The primary organizer of the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is ready to pass the torch.
HV1 went deep on the history of municipal animal control in Saugerties, which just broke ground on a new facility.
Asha’s Farm Sanctuary and rescue is marking 10 years in Niagara County.
Central New York SPCA will host a fundraising dinner tomorrow in Syracuse.
Howard Beach-based cat rescue and TNR heroes MeowSquadNYC will hold its second annual Halloween-oriented fundraiser next Friday.
Also next Friday: H.O.P.E. Animal Rescue’s Spirits of the Gilded Age Gala, in Saratoga Springs.
Colorado wants to ease its vet shortage by allowing “veterinary professional associates” to perform surgeries and handle other facets of care normally reserved for DVMs. Not everyone thinks this is a good idea.
And finally, coming soon to the TSNY HQ library: this book.
New York adoptables
NYC ACC will hold adoption events in Queens and Brooklyn this weekend.
Ennui and Anxiety are two (of no doubt many) awesomely-named cats (and dogs) available at Smithtown Animal Shelter.
Erie SPCA and a Buffalo car dealer will co-host a cat and dog adoption fair tomorrow.
Mohawk Hudson Humane Society will co-host an adoption event with a car dealer in Menands, also tomorrow.
Find a New York adoptable near you on Petfinder.
Food recalls
The FDA issued no new pet food recalls this week. Check here for info on earlier recalls.