In all the years I have been reading the Times I have never seen a serious issue like this treated as such a laughing matter. I had to look twice to check that it wasn't an op-ed. You don't have to be a "canine Marxist" to care about the dozens of animals who are euthanized every day in the city's shelters. Absolutely shameful writing.
28
Seems like the turkeys are not just running amok on Staten Island, but in City Hall...
1
Hopefully Mr Dupee will be a productive fundraiser and administrator for animal welfare in NYC ---especially the abandoned cats and dogs.
5
I truly hope that an educational campaign is undertaken to discuss the problem of cat owners allowing their cats to roam the city streets. Not only do they endanger their own pets, but they normalize the perception that cats belong on our city streets. The larger public becomes confused about whether cats are just another rodent scampering about or an animal that deserves indoor care. Volunteers get confused about which cats need to be neutered. The city streets are filled with toxins, small objects that cats ingest, and dangerous vehicles. Finally, cats nutritional needs are very specific. They need just the right balance of calcium and phosphorus so that they don't develop kidney problems. Cats who wander the streets pick up scraps that cause nutrient imbalances. No cat deserves to be living on the city streets. PLEASE KEEP YOUR CATS INSIDE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR OWN PETS AND FERAL CATS.
15
Makes sense entirely. Big city, big animal issues and problems.
5
Not only is Mayor DeBlasio anti-animal (as demonstrated by never owning a pet in his life, renting his house with a no pets clause, killing the groundhog, banning bunnies, wanting to ban horse carriages), but he has now appointed a radical animal rights activist to oversee animals in NYC? This does not bode well for any animals in NYC. These radical groups do not represent the majority of pet owners and working animals alike. This was clearly a political maneuver as the Mayor's desire to ban carriage horses is clearly unfavorable with the majority of both citizens and council people and this seems a crafty move to deflect the radical animal rights group who's money got this man elected. It smells to high heaven of more political corruption. Preet Bhahara, hope you will be looking into corruption in NYC soon. We need you.
3
"Banning bunnies" is not anti-animal. We don't sell many other types of live creatures who do not make appropriate pets and who are likely to be mistreated. Never owning a pet is not anti-animal. It is an individual decision that was likely based on whether he had the time to spend on a pet. Just having an animal in your house and feeding it is not enough. The fact that he took on the politically unpopular carriage horse issue is a sign of strength of character. Despite your topsy turvy view of the world, most people can see that the creation of this position was made in the best interests of animals. Thank you Mayor!
25
This is just outright ridiculous. Any further comment would be excessive.
1
Wrong, on every count. Note that Mr. de Blasio's opponent in the Mayoral race also pledged to end the carriage horse cruelty. As for this issue being "unfavorable" to most people, most people think the carriage horses are well-cared for, live in Central Park, and are protected by laws that are rigidly enforced - none of which are true. Try again when you know what you are talking about.
4
It's pretty amazing that de Blasio established this position - it's progressive and forward-thinking, and something every city needs. I live in Los Angeles and we have many of the same issues as NYC (birds and other animals at the airport that need to be humanely moved, feral and stray cat colonies that need trap-neuter-return programs, and so many homeless pets). I hope someone is hired here and in every major city to help alleviate human-animal conflicts and create a more compassionate environment for all animals.
20
Love animals, but not this bunch of self serving activists.
They prey on our emotions, to further their goals.
A pack of hounds, nipping and yelping for power.
Is there nothing in this world that can be trusted?
They prey on our emotions, to further their goals.
A pack of hounds, nipping and yelping for power.
Is there nothing in this world that can be trusted?
4
It is beyond time that we know our real role is as guardians, not dominant species. In 2015 in New York City we must lead not follow. We set the tone, the cadence, the harmony. We are kind, compassionate, and resolute in our conclusion about inclusion. There simply is no one with reason that would not be proud to support any and every effort to make the lives of those most in need, most entrusted to us better, and dare I say loved.
7
Thank you Mr. Mayor.
NYACC kills many dogs and cats seven days a week.
Nightly announcements of NYACC dogs to be killed the next morning are posted here: https://www.facebook.com/Urgentdeathrowdogs?fref=photo
Dog-fighting is huge in the New York metro area. Many low-income people breed pitbulls for quick cash. There are so many full blooded "pitties" in the shelters, you know that they are not just accidents of not spaying or neutering. (BTW - I love pitties and have one who is eight years old ).
NYACC kills many dogs and cats seven days a week.
Nightly announcements of NYACC dogs to be killed the next morning are posted here: https://www.facebook.com/Urgentdeathrowdogs?fref=photo
Dog-fighting is huge in the New York metro area. Many low-income people breed pitbulls for quick cash. There are so many full blooded "pitties" in the shelters, you know that they are not just accidents of not spaying or neutering. (BTW - I love pitties and have one who is eight years old ).
10
Pet overpopulation is a serious problem in this city - the situations for so many animals is both inhumane and a real threat to public health. We need a substantial increase in our support for spay and neuter programs, and so much can be done to make our shelters more accessible to the public and more humane for the animals in those shelters. There are many other animal issues in this city that similarly impact our humanity as a city as well as public health concerns. I am glad that our mayor takes these issues seriously.
10
Bravo Mayor for hiring an animal liaison and taking animal protection seriously! It is a major social justice issue that voters care about. Congrats Jeff Dupee!
25
A society that abandons their best friends and murders them cannot claim to be civilized.
The NYCACC is an embarrassment and if it wasn't for privately funded animal rescue groups who's volunteers who pull animals out of there, make them safe and well even more then the thousands of dogs and cats who die every year, would be lost.
Yes, some of us do eat cheeseburgers but we also adopt shelter pets and with money, food and support on social networks try to save more.
Adopt, don't shop may be a new and trendy way of selling what should be a natural instinct but I'll take whatever works as long as it saves lives and gives rescue groups free publicity and more help.
The NYCACC is an embarrassment and if it wasn't for privately funded animal rescue groups who's volunteers who pull animals out of there, make them safe and well even more then the thousands of dogs and cats who die every year, would be lost.
Yes, some of us do eat cheeseburgers but we also adopt shelter pets and with money, food and support on social networks try to save more.
Adopt, don't shop may be a new and trendy way of selling what should be a natural instinct but I'll take whatever works as long as it saves lives and gives rescue groups free publicity and more help.
21
I am very pleased to learn that the Mayor appointed Mr. Dupee to address animal well-being issues.
20
what about the carriage horses? when will those be off the streets?
13
Hopefully never. Cannot wait to take my carriage ride next week!
10
Inside the park is OK by me - not in crowded city streets with rushing impatient noisy polluting traffic.
2
Give it a rest! The carriage horses are healthy & well taken care of ! The financing of your campaign comes from a mega real estate mogul who has the stables on the top of his list for condo development. Its not about the horses! Its about the MONEY! Look behind the curtain!
2
"The idea of raising animals for food is unacceptable to us, regardless of cage sizes, living conditions, or slaughter methods —" from Farm Sanctuary.. This is the mission of the man in charge of de blasios "animal care' for NYC I am saddened that the NYT did not do more research and in depth on this man and his group .. a group that supports the end of the use of any animals.. including pets
6
This is kind of cute but you're ignoring a couple of things. First, the geese. It's the ones in Prospect Park that have gotten people upset. Whole families of geese rounded up and gassed.
And the carriage horses, who have, according to all experts, a good life. But their stable is real estate being eyed by de Blasio backers.
De Blasio hired an "animal point person" as somebody to take the heat.
And the carriage horses, who have, according to all experts, a good life. But their stable is real estate being eyed by de Blasio backers.
De Blasio hired an "animal point person" as somebody to take the heat.
14
Your comments could not be more off base. Experts such as the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States have been fighting to ban horse carriages for years.
17
The ASPCA and Humane Society have become radical animal rights groups and are no better than PETA. The overwhelming majority of animal owners shun groups such as this, along with fake animal groups such as NYCLASS, which, according to their 501c3 filing status is a car and garage company. It is a pity this NYTimes author did not further research this new animal appointment and the "sanctuary" that he came from.
4
This is no laughing matter in spite of the jaunty tone of the article. Animal welfare in NYC is a big and significant issue. Our treatment of non-human inhabitants is a measure of our humanity. I don't care about de Blasio's motives so long as good things come of his attention to non-humans.
33
I do volunteer work in a city shelter and we have oodles of ideas on how to improve adoptions. First of all try and get advertisers to use shelter dogs in their ads instead of purebreds. Find a way to get people to think first of adopting a shelter dog. I've had three and it is hard to figure out who was 'the best dog ever'. Change the mind set of those who want trophy dogs and then you will be well on your way. Don't patronize dog shows. Anyone would be sickened if they found out about the cruelty many of these dogs suffer. Advertise in subways, newspapers and tv. Make your shelter dogs, stars. Start a vet and food fund for those who want their pet but can't afford it, training classes. We have a shelter run fund for helping dogs in the greater Missoula area and it is funded with donations and is run entirely by volunteers, 99% of the donations are used to help out with vet bills and food. Find a way for the elderly to have a pet with volunteer dog walkers. A little imagination and your shelter will be successful and shine. Believe me there is a lot of America that will take notice.
31
wouldn't it be better to eliminate shelter dogs? .Shouldn't that be the goal of every shelter and rescue. to close themselves down, Instead we pour more money into bigger and fancier places that are essentially pet stores and call them shelters. Dogs are shipped in from all sorts of places for resale with no or little regard for their health or the health of the dog around them. Most purebred dogs from private breeders come from health tested stock and the puppies are vetted before placement. When shelters and rescues start only placing dogs that have been fully health tested ( and I mean full panel of blood work, urinalysis and an echocardigram for heart) will they ea able to say the dogs are healthy. I do love you idea of older folks walking dogs good for all and perhaps they will keep one or tow.. and also your idea of a food fund so p[ets can stay in their homes.. sadly you have the wrong idea about pure bred dogs. but that is another story
2
Shelters are "essentially pet stores?"
I'll just let that statement hang out there for a second.
Right. And breeders are always scrupulous. That's why there are "lemon laws" to deal with unscrupulous breeders.
Do you actually believe this stuff?
I'll just let that statement hang out there for a second.
Right. And breeders are always scrupulous. That's why there are "lemon laws" to deal with unscrupulous breeders.
Do you actually believe this stuff?
2
The shelters need the funds to do all that testing.
Adopt from a rescue if you are worried about adopting a shelter dog. Rescues vet the dogs at their own expense and have them longer in a home-like atmosphere where they can observe their personalities and the poor dogs can decompress and relax from the often traumatic shelter experience.
When my brother adopted a rescue dog, the rescuers said "now we can go back to the shelter and save another dog!"
Do not buy a dog from someone who breeds for money! Breeding for money is reprehensible.
Adopt from a rescue if you are worried about adopting a shelter dog. Rescues vet the dogs at their own expense and have them longer in a home-like atmosphere where they can observe their personalities and the poor dogs can decompress and relax from the often traumatic shelter experience.
When my brother adopted a rescue dog, the rescuers said "now we can go back to the shelter and save another dog!"
Do not buy a dog from someone who breeds for money! Breeding for money is reprehensible.
4
Caring for animals is thoughtful
Being thoughtful helps us solve many of our problems
A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. --Leo Tolstoy
Being thoughtful helps us solve many of our problems
A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. --Leo Tolstoy
11
The City Council had voted for full service shelters in the Bronx and Queens, but then amended the bill in 2011 to eliminate shelters in these two boroughs, instead providing more funds for existing facilities and and acquiring mobile adoption units. This is not enough to address the number of pets surrendered each day, week and year, many of whom are eventually euthanized after 3 days because the current shelters lack adequate space, or the animals become sick from the stress of their shelter conditions. The additional full service shelters would create more kennels, provide medical treatment and training, as well as make adoptable animals accessible to residents of the Bronx and Queens. I would ask Mr. Dupee to look into the current animal shelter system and consider reviving the obligation to have full service shelters in all 5 boroughs.
15
Kudos to the reporter for not giving in to the too-common, pseudo-dog-speak, cutsie writing I see so often when humans try to channel their pawed friends. You know what I mean, all you "me can has cheeseburger" people.
You do wonder why animal shelters can remain unimproved in the midst of so much wealth and such annoyingly conspicuous overindulgence of designer pets by the uber rich. The inequality is not just in NYC, though. The Animal Services facility in San Jose, California, is pretty horrible, yet there it lies in the middle of the immense wealth of Silicon Valley. The "rescued" pet is now a status symbol out here on the west coast, but most people don't go to those grotty shelters for their adoptions. They go to rescue societies, which pull the dogs from shelters and clean them up, or to breeders who are rehoming dogs (hardly a rescue, that, but I digress), or to well-funded humane societies that have more attractive facilities than your average municipal or county pound. Few people have the fortitude to enter those sad places, and the public perception (falsehood is that they are full of unadaptable bully breeds.
All kinds of dogs end up at the pound, for all kinds of reasons. I have adopted many marvelous dogs from the pound -- two of them purebreds. Don't discount your local Animal Services as a place to find a buddy!
You do wonder why animal shelters can remain unimproved in the midst of so much wealth and such annoyingly conspicuous overindulgence of designer pets by the uber rich. The inequality is not just in NYC, though. The Animal Services facility in San Jose, California, is pretty horrible, yet there it lies in the middle of the immense wealth of Silicon Valley. The "rescued" pet is now a status symbol out here on the west coast, but most people don't go to those grotty shelters for their adoptions. They go to rescue societies, which pull the dogs from shelters and clean them up, or to breeders who are rehoming dogs (hardly a rescue, that, but I digress), or to well-funded humane societies that have more attractive facilities than your average municipal or county pound. Few people have the fortitude to enter those sad places, and the public perception (falsehood is that they are full of unadaptable bully breeds.
All kinds of dogs end up at the pound, for all kinds of reasons. I have adopted many marvelous dogs from the pound -- two of them purebreds. Don't discount your local Animal Services as a place to find a buddy!
19
Very good news for dogs and other pets. But I believe Ms. Barrios-Paoli is incorrect about one thing, however. Humans have not encroached on coyote habitat. Coyotes are actually encroaching on human habitat. Coyotes were not found in the East, around New York City until many decades after the extermination of eastern wolves. Coyotes had since expanded across eastern Canada, mixed with wolves there, and the result, the eastern coyote, has spread south to Florida.
13
Richard, why do you think coyotes have 'expanded' across eastern Canada and spread south to Florida? For all the 'nuisance' wildlife entering our backyards, you need only to look at deforestation and development which upsets the top-down predation balance of our ecosystem.
7
you must be joking Farm Sanctuary is a "well respected group" no. it is not it is an animal rights group that wants NO more animal use. They make PETA look good ( and that is going some) here is their mission statement:Our Mission:
"To protect farm animals from cruelty, inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals, and promote compassionate vegan living.
promote vegan living".. that means for EVERYONE. including your pets.. because if no one kills animals for food his pet cats would starve...this is just another political payback from a man who knows NOTHING about animals but plenty about graft
"To protect farm animals from cruelty, inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals, and promote compassionate vegan living.
promote vegan living".. that means for EVERYONE. including your pets.. because if no one kills animals for food his pet cats would starve...this is just another political payback from a man who knows NOTHING about animals but plenty about graft
13
You allude to an important problem with fanatic vegans -- their desire to make their carnivorous or omnivorous pets into vegans. Neither cats not dogs can thrive on a vegan diet. Both species evolved to eat a protein-rich diet of mostly animal flesh. It is cruel neglect to deny them animal products in their food. But the Farm Sanctuary is concerned with farm livestock, not pets. None of the animals grown for food in the USA are predators. Meat animals are plant eaters (pigs will eat just about anything, but left to their own devices they graze), yet many are fed animal proteins processed from unspeakable sources. So as far as "farm" animals are concerned, I agree with the mission of the Farm Sanctuary. Grazers should graze.
Of course, if no one is eating meat or dairy, there is no reason for those farm animals to exist, but that is another matter.
Of course, if no one is eating meat or dairy, there is no reason for those farm animals to exist, but that is another matter.
9
Sorry, but you are wrong about vegans demanding that animals become vegans. A couple of months ago I posted a question on a prominent animal rights Facebook page asking how they handled feeding their cats (I was genuinely curious). The responses I got unanimously said they made an exception for obligatory carnivores like cats.
9
sorry but it is not 'another matter" in order for our domestic pets to eat ( including Jeffs') something has to die. Farm Sanctuary does not want any animals to die to feed any other animal.Grazers should graze? Sure why not? Meanwhile chickens eat worms and insects and will eat small rodents if they are larger fowl and if grazers should graze then why not let them exist? The ultimate vegan goal is the elimination of all domestic animsl and there by the extinction of may breeds and strains o cows, pigs, sheep, goats etc. as Wayne Pacelle of the HSUS said 'One generation and out..." and "I don;t want to see another cat or dog born". I suggest the NYT do some in depth research on Farm Sanctuary where every animals is castrated in order for them NOT to reproduce.. the most basic instinct of all .. ever wonder why? I don't the elimination fo domestic animals is a hard concept for most people to grasp but in truth it is the goal of all vegans. Just a brief perusall of their site will tell you everything you need to know and more. Meanwhile the mayor has not a clue as he is guided only by money. How much vetting do you think Jeff had for this job?
3
Ginia, if Jeff Dupee truly aspires to be "...the eyes and ears on the street for these [animal] issues” can you post his preferred contact information? If he is not accessible, he will unlikely acquire the information he needs to help with reforms. Thank you.
17