Policy
50% of New Yorkers can’t afford a pet. Affordable care can change that.
The Crisis at a Glance
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Millions of New Yorkers can’t afford the vet.
Half of all NYC residents (4.7 million people) can’t afford a basic vet visit. Cost of care and housing barriers are the top reasons pets are surrendered in NYC.
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Shelters are overwhelmed and staying that way.
Animal Care Centers of NYC take in 15,000+ pets every year, far beyond capacity. And adoptions aren't making a dent, as the average length of stay has tripled since 2020.
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NYC spends less and pays more in the long run.
New York City spends just $2.89 per resident on animal care, compared to $13.70 in Miami. Less than 1% of funding goes to prevention, even though upstream care costs far less than sheltering.
We're making real progress here. Let's keep going.
The city approved new funding in their fiscal 2027 budget for affordable spay/neuter services and pet food support, created its first Animal Welfare Caucus, and appointed new leadership to the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare.
These are important gains. They are also a beginning. We are continuing to track implementation, advocate for long-term funding, and work toward a city where every New Yorker can access basic veterinary care.
What changed
New animal welfare leadership
Allie Taylor has been appointed Director of the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare after ten years building Voters For Animal Rights.
New city funding
The FY27 budget includes funding for affordable spay/neuter services and pet food support.
A new Animal Welfare Caucus
Nineteen Council Members joined the Council’s first Animal Welfare Caucus, supported by a dedicated staff member.
Legislation is moving
Pet food pantry legislation has been reintroduced, while work has begun on legislation requiring affordable veterinary clinics across the five boroughs.
Status Tracker
#1
Appoint New Leadership & Enforce the Laws We Already Have
NYC needs clear leadership, enforcement, and accountability to move animal welfare from crisis management to prevention.
Appoint new leadership at the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare Completed
Enforce existing laws around breeding, licensing, and sterilization Requires City action
Require transparent, quarterly public reporting from DOHMH Requires City action
#2
Make Basic Vet Care Affordable for More New Yorkers
Affordable veterinary care keeps pets with their families and reduces shelter overcrowding at the source.
Fund spay/neuter surgeries Funded for FY27
Support capital projects for new clinics Future priority
Pass law requiring low-cost veterinary clinics in every borough In development
#3
Expand Community Support & Prevention Programs
Provide resources to help families weather short-term hardship without surrendering their pets.
Fund pet food pantry pilots in The Bronx and Brooklyn
Funded for FY27
Fund outreach + education pilot to connect families with resources Future priority
Affordable Pet Care = Humane City
Affordability is a city-wide issue.
Making pet care more affordable strengthens our neighborhoods by easing financial strain on families and keeping pets off the street.
Quality of life improves when pets are healthy and housed.
Supporting access to care benefits animals, families, and the overall well-being of New York City communities.
Prevention is more cost-effective than crisis response.
Investing in affordable veterinary care and support programs reduces shelter overcrowding and saves public resources.
Listen to our podcast.
Underfoot is a new podcast about the hidden cat crisis in NYC and what we can do to solve it. In this podcast, we go beyond rescue stories to reveal the systems that created this problem in the first place, and ask the question: What would it take to build a city where no cat is left behind?
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Who We Are
Flatbush Cats
Flatbush Cats is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit working to end cat overpopulation in NYC and beyond. By expanding access to affordable veterinary care and essential support services, we prevent shelter surrenders and reduce the number of cats living on the street.
Voters for Animal Rights (VFAR)
Voters for Animal Rights works to elect candidates who support animal protection, lobby for strong laws to stop animal cruelty, and hold elected officials accountable to humane voters.