At-Risk Animals

Thank you for your interest in adopting from Animal Care Centers of NYC. Our At-Risk List is posted three times a week, on the evenings of Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 6:00PM and remains viewable for 42 hours.

Schedule overview:
Animals posted at 6:00PM on Sunday evening will be viewable until Tuesday at 12:00PM noon.
Animals posted at 6:00PM on Tuesday evening will be viewable until Thursday at 12:00PM noon.
Animals posted at 6:00PM on Thursday evening will be viewable until Saturday at 12:00PM noon.

To find out the status of at-risk animals, please visit the At-Risk Outcomes page.

If this is your first time visiting this site, please read the below information carefully.

For anyone who wishes to adopt, there is a mandatory deposit fee of $200 plus a transaction fee per animal to place an adoption reservation. The $200 covers $50 toward the adoption fee and $150 for the spay/neuter deposit. If the animal has already been spayed or neutered or is permanently waived by one of our veterinarians, the $150 deposit will be refunded at the time of the adoption. If the animal does need to leave without being spayed or neutered due to his/her medical condition, the $150 deposit will be refunded at the time they are brought back for the spay/neuter surgery or when proof of sterilization being done elsewhere is provided to ACC. If you do not follow through with the adoption, the entire $200 deposit will be considered a charitable donation to ACC's Special Treatment and Recovery Fund (STAR). Also, if the adoption fee for an animal is less than $50, the difference will be considered a charitable donation to the STAR Fund. Similarly, in-shelter pricing promotions do not apply to at-risk animals.

To complete an adoption, please click reserve on the animal of your choice. That animal will be loaded in your cart and you will have 15 minutes to complete the adoption process. In order to complete your reservation, you need to check out (top right corner). At this point, you will enter in your credit card information and a receipt will be emailed to you as confirmation of your reservation. If you have any issues, please email adopt@nycacc.org for help navigating the website.

If you are interested in fostering/adopting through one of our New Hope partners, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/ozHex3uqvNkQt2dq9

At-Risk Animals

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Rex

Rex is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Rex has shown high arousal and fixation around food, including repeatedly jumping at and pushing into handlers' treat pouches and grabbing onto clothing. Rex responds well to training and has shown improvement with leave-it and disengagement work, successfully redirecting from treat pouches and other dogs when cued, but is struggling to regulate his arousal on his own in the care center. Medically, Rex is apparently healthy.

Ghost

Ghost is at risk for behavior reasons. Ghost can become easily over aroused when interacting with people. He is strong dog who is quick to put his mouth on people. When being brought to the care center, he jumped up and ripped a handler's sweatshirt. Ghost was unable to get through his handling assessment due to immediately jumping up and mouthing, however he has been manageable to go on walks. Medically, he is apparently healthy.

Dr. Tom-Ato

Dr. Tom-Ato is on the At Risk list due to behavior. While he does display social behavior, he is prone to overstimulation and displays challenging behavior during interactions and in a home environment. He is extremely intelligent and high energy, and needs to expend energy constructively with interactive play sessions 3-4X/day. In addition to playtime, this cat would also benefit from mental exercise from activities such as puzzle toys/games, lick mats, or clicker training. Without providing activity for hismind and body, the cat may react with rough play, potentially resulting in bite/scratch incidents. It is in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him/her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with feline body language, overstimulation, rough play, and who have the time to invest in managing these behaviors on a consistent basis to avoid further bite/scratch incidents.

Tyla

Tyla is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Tyla has shown intense fearful and defensive behavior, including curling tightly at the back of her kennel, growling, hiding, avoiding eye contact, and pressing herself against the kennel wall. She has also refused treats and toys and will plant or attempt to scurry away when leashed. Tyla continues to struggle to acclimate to the shelter environment despite efforts to move slowly and encourage voluntary interactions. Medically, Tyla has Dental disease, stifle laxity, a coxofemoral luxation and an ear infection.

Malcolm

Malcolm is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Malcolm has shown fearful and defensive behavior around leashing, including retreating to the back of his kennel, growling, baring his teeth, dodging the leash, and snapping at it when handlers attempt to leash him. Malcolm has shown some improvement over time and, once leashed and outside of his kennel, is able to walk calmly but is still highly fearful and anxious in the care center despite best efforts to keep him comfortable. Medically, Malcolm is apparently healthy.

Twinkle Toes

Twinkle Toes is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Twinkle Toes has shown significant kennel stress and high arousal, including repetitive spinning, bouncing off the kennel walls and door, jumping, barking, heavy panting, and hard pulling on leash. She has also displayed lunging and hard barking toward dogs outside of the care center as well as jumping on staff incessantly during walks. Twinkle Toes responds well to training and is consistently able to redirect and engage with handlers using pattern games, touch, and engage/disengage work and is highly social with staff and her favorite volunteers. Medically, Twinkle Toes is apparently healthy.

Fanny

Fanny is on the at-risk list for medical reasons. Fanny has an aural hematoma, likely due to chronic otitis and ear mites. While her hematoma is healing, the chronic changes to Fanny's ear make it difficult to treat her ear issues to resolution as her right ear canal is significantly narrowed. She needs frequent cleanings and medication application and will need veterinary follow up. Behaviorally, Fanny is very sweet and loves pets, but she has escalated to swatting with claws in while having her ears cleaned.

Diamond

Diamond is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Diamond recently returned to the care center due to a bite in the home. While on leash, another dog approached Diamond from behind. Diamond then turned and bit the dog; this bite broke skin and resulted in in a small wound. While in care, Diamond has been observed to be reactive to both people and dogs. When seeing other dogs, Diamond will fixate on them and begin barking with a high pitch. Medically, Diamond is healthy at this time.

Easy Cheesy

Easy Cheesy is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Cheesy has been observed to highly fearful while in care. During intake, Cheesy was observed to hard bark, lunge, growl, and muzzle punch when handlers were attempting to interact with them. In kennel, Cheesy has continued to be observed to be fearful. Noted to bark at handlers with a tense body when they attempt to interact. With a slow approach, Cheesy is observed to engage with enrichment. Medically, Easy Cheesy is underweight.

Sally

Sally is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.

Coopsta

Coopsta is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Despite our best efforts at keeping him comfortable, Coopsta has been observed to be highly stressed while in care. Noted to finger paint his kennel with feces and has been observed to be jumping up and down. With handlers, Coopsta has been observed to be mouthy and was noted to mouth handlers when they were attempting to leash him. In one instance Coopsta was noted to snap at the lock when the handler went to place it on his kennel. While out with handlers, Coopsta is responsive and is receptive to contact. He will lean into the handler while seeking more. Medically, Coopsta is apparently healthy.

Chase

Chase is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Initially Chase was observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to have a tense body and would retreat from handlers when they attempted to interact. Over time Chase warmed up to handlers and now presents with a loose body and wagging tail. Recently Chase has been observed to have a low threshold for arousal. Noted to jump up high on handlers while on walks. In one instance, Chase jumped up and bit the handler on the lip. This bite did not break skin. Medically, Chase is apparently healthy.

Basquiat

Basquiat is at risk due to behavioral reasons. While in care, he has been observed to be highly fearful. Noted to thrash, flail, and snap while on leash. During intake it was reported that Basquiat snapped at the police. Basquiat is receptive to squeaky sounds. Medically, Basquiat has moderate to severe dental disease, a luxating patella, is underweight and matted.