The Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is hosting a mobile pet adoption event on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center, 212-45 26th Ave.., in Bayside.
The event, sponsored by Council Member Vickie Paladino, will feature cats and dogs of all ages, including some kittens in need of a loving home. For those who are interested in stopping by and potentially meeting a new furry friend to take home, some important information should be known beforehand to best prepare potential adopters for the event.
“We recommend that people get there early and make sure your phone is fully charged because we have forms that you fill out on your phone,” said Katy Hansen, the director of marketing and communications for Animal Care Centers. “You can fill out an application before you even arrive, and that makes things go pretty fast.”
ACC also has an app called ACC of NYC, which can be downloaded by iPhone and Android users. The app allows users to see a list of the animals that will be at the mobile event. The more information potential adopters can learn about the animals that will be there beforehand will be very helpful at the event.
“First, you meet the animals, that’s why it’s good to have some idea of what kind of pet you’re looking for,” said Hansen. “Once you select an animal you like, you sit down with one of our adoption counselors and go over that animal’s personality, what they need at home, and what you’re looking for at home.”
The Animal Care Centers are the city’s only open-admission shelter. They presently have locations in Staten Island, Manhattan, Queens in the Ridgewood community, and a Brooklyn location that’s currently undergoing renovation. According to Hansen, the center takes in around 20-25,000 animals a year, and since 2017, they have placed around 90% and above of their animals in homes. The Center started doing mobile adoption events to bring the animals to more areas throughout the city that weren’t near where their shelters were located.
“Most of the animals that we bring to the adoption events are really easily adoptable,” said Hansen. “They already get along with other animals because they’re in the truck with other animals, so they’ve shown us that they are good, and they’re healthy.”
Potential adopters must be at least 18 years old and will need to bring a form of identification, such as a driver’s license, as well as something to show proof of address, like a utility bill. The animals at the event all had their vaccinations, and most animals were spayed or neutered. According to Hansen, there has been a backlog of spade neuter surgeries lately, so in the event an animal is not, adopters will sign a waiver, and they can bring their pet to ACC to have them do the procedure. Before pets leave the truck with their new owners, adoption counselors review the information and answer any questions about what owners should know or keep in mind when adopting a pet into the family.
“We talk about medical and food expenses, making sure that someone’s there to take care,” said Hansen. “And also, if it doesn’t work, there’s no shame in coming back. You still provided some time for that animal away from the shelter, which is always a positive. We’ll always take the animal back if it doesn’t work because we don’t want to force it. We do a lot of counseling, but people should know that it is a commitment, and this is a live animal.”
Prices for the animals at the mobile event this Saturday vary based on animal and size, but overall, dogs cost $75, smaller dogs under 20 pounds are $150, kittens are $125, and cats cost between $25 and $75. ACC will also provide a cardboard carrier for cats and a leash for dogs, and adopters are given a certificate for a free exam at pet practices throughout the city.
