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.
Our Recommendation:
By making veterinary care more affordable for New Yorkers, we can reduce animal shelter overcrowding.
Our Advocacy Platform
#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
Enforce existing laws around breeding, licensing, and sterilization
Require transparent, quarterly public reporting from DOHMH
#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
Support capital projects for new clinics
Pass law requiring low-cost veterinary clinics in every borough
#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
Fund outreach + education pilot to connect families with resources
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.
Bonus Episode:
What Mayor Mamdani Can Do to Fix NYC’s Animal Welfare Crisis
In this bonus episode, we sit down with the President of Voters for Animal Rights to break down the policy gaps behind the crisis.
What Mayor Mamdani Can Do to Fix NYC’s Animal Welfare Crisis
“ We want [New York City] to be the laboratory of ideas to have a real progressive, compassionate society. And that has to include how we treat our animals.”
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“You gave us the help we needed to make sure [Milo has] food until I get back to work.”
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“Your organization helped me big time by supplying food for [Fifi] and soon helping me for her surgery coming up next month in January. God bless you all. I’m so thankful knowing I have a second family for me and my babies in moments of need.”
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“It's very helpful to receive food donation of Meow Mix that Alice loves to eat that lets me save money to cover the medical bills I have for Alice.”
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“By going to Flatbush Cats, I was finally able to learn that my baby [Goyard] has a heart murmur—something I would’ve never known otherwise. Thanks to their care and guidance, I now have the knowledge and support to take action and help manage his condition.”
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“Flatbush Cats provided Marcel with all of his vaccines, a microchip, neutering and bloodwork - all at an affordable cost to our family which is on a limited income and I'm not sure we could have done it without their help.”
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“Zim is prone to several health issues and with the help of Flatbush Cats, basic vet care like physicals and vaccines are incredibly accessible and affordable…It’s nice to breathe a breath of relief knowing vaccines and a physical won’t take up an entire paycheck so I can put the big money into his speciality care for his ear polyps and dental.”
Join the movement for affordable pet care in NYC.
Sign up for updates on policy, campaigns, and opportunities to take action for animals and the people who love them.
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 elect candidates who support animal protection, lobby for strong laws to stop animal cruelty, and hold elected officials accountable to humane voters.