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Animal Control Officer Shawn Carroll said that the shelter currently has 70 cats and 38 dogs, and there is still room for the latter. Carroll said that people have been dropping off cats on the doorstep on the shelter but there is no more room for them inside.
“We need more cage space,” Carroll said. “Cats usually come here when there is an eviction or someone moves into a place that doesn’t allow pets. We’ve been able to move dogs, but not as quickly as we would like.”
Carroll said that the shelter implemented a training program for dogs more than a year ago and that has helped make them more adoptable. Carroll said that in October the shelter placed for adoption 29 cats and dogs that were helped by the program.
“Our dogs are sitting for treats and not jumping on people anymore.” Carroll said. “We have six to seven people coming in a day but most of them never come back to adopt. I’m the one who rescues the animals and I am the one who has to hold them when they are put down. It’s the worst part of my job.”
Carroll said that when an animal gets adopted, it opens up a space that is desperately needed at the shelter. Carroll said that anyone who qualifies can adopt an animal adding that the shelter needs to know pets are allowed in the adopter’s residence so the animals don’t wind up on the street again.
“Our animals come spayed and neutered and are trained for the most part,” Carroll said. “You’re not going to get that at a puppy store. Once a cage opens up we can save another life.”
For information on adoption call 914-665-2444.
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