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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Layluh Rayne
Layluh Rayne is at risk due to behavioral reasons. During her previous stay, Layluh Rayne was brought to the care centers due to a bite incident. Layluh Rayn bit another dog while playing, which resulted in the dog suffering a brain injury. During her current stay Layluh is fearful and tense when staff interact with her. With handlers, Layluh is receptive to a slow approach and walks with mild to moderate pressure on the leash. Medically, Layluh has otitis externa and is overweight.
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Sterling
Sterling is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns in care and in his previous home. He was reported to have bitten a resident cat after escaping his crate. During the incident, he bit the cat on the leg and bit the foster on the hand while they attempted to separate them. Sterling was also reported to display significant separation anxiety when left alone, including eliminating indoors, attempting to escape and flip his crate, chewing baseboards and door frames, counter surfing, destroying household items, and accessing human food. While in the care center, Sterling has also been observed to hesitate in certain areas during walks, requiring coaxing or a change in direction to continue walking. In his previous foster homes, Sterling was described as friendly, affectionate, and eager to cuddle. Sterling in care has done well in dog playgroups and loves hanging out with his favorite staff members. Medically, Sterling has anemia, cryptorchidism, and dental disease.
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Swanson
Swanson 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 the limited information available on admission, it is unknown just how socialized she is, and she has been avoidant of touch and escalates to defensive behaviors during interactions due to her high level of FAS. Due to these consistent elevated stress levels and her length of stay, 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 have experience with cats that potentially have limited socialization - and are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust. And those who have experience with positive reinforcement training and adult cat socialization, and helping a potentially under socialized/fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Jasper
Jasper is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to his stress levels, 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 plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Scott
Scott is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to his stress levels, 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 plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Princess Nina
Princess Nina is on the At Risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and is deteriorating in the Adoptions room. She is now displaying signs of overstimulation. 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 and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Sudoku
Sudoku is on the At Risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and though he is social with familiar handlers, he has a bite history and displays signs of overstimulation during interactions. 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 his mind 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 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.
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Ozzy
Ozzy is at risk due to behavior concerns. He arrived at the care centers as a stray with no known history. Upon intake he had a loose wiggly body and was social with staff. However, during his medical intake exam he was reported to be hard barking, growling and lunging at the kennel door. Throughout his stay, Ozzy has remained social with handlers and readily participates in training sessions. In kennel he has been reported to be jumping and barking as handlers approach, but recently, Ozzy has displayed increased kennel stress. His kennel door has been noted to be covered in saliva and he has been observed to lunge, hard bark, and jump on his kennel door, even escalating to snarling and biting when touching his kennel card. Medically, he has otitis externa.
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Harissa

Harrisa is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to his stress levels, 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 plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Matthew
Matthew is on the at risk list for medical reasons. Matthew has severe dental disease and was noted to have lost a pound over the two months she has been in shelter, despite a reportedly good appetite. Her bloodwork showed some abnormalities, but was not diagnostic for any particular disease. An underlying systemic disease is suspected and additional diagnostics including abdominal ultrasound are recommended. Behaviorally, Matthew is fearful and attempts to flee during medical handling.
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Midnight

Midnight has been placed at risk due to ongoing, distance-increasing behaviors. She entered the Care Center with multiple previous bite/scratch incidents. As she has been in the Care Center, Midnight has been quick to escalate to lunging, hissing, and swatting. The behaviors she has been displaying in care have made it increasingly difficult to clean and have successful interactions. It is in Midnight’s best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable, low-traffic home environment with an experienced adopter. Medically, she entered the Care Center with fleas and dermatitis as well as mild dental disease.
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Monay
Monay is at-risk for behavior reasons. She entered the Care Center with a previous scratch history. Since being at the Care Center, she has not warmed up to staff and has been displaying distance-increasing behaviors. During interactions, Monay will lunge, swat, hiss and growl at staff. Given her fearful behavior, it would be best for Monay to transition out of the shelter environment and into a home with an experienced adopter. Medically, she has gingivitis and is overweight.
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Octopus
Octopus 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.
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Celime

Celime is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to his stress levels, 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 plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Beauty
Beauty is at risk for behavior reasons. Beauty is reported to have separation anxiety in her previous home, escalating to biting when the owner was leaving. Beauty has bitten over resources as well. Beauty does show bite inhibition as no bites have broken the skin. In the care center she is fearful, often shaking in her kennel. During socialization, she warms up to handlers quickly but can be wary when handlers reach towards her. Medically, she is apparently healthy.
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Queen Bee
Queen Bee is on the at risk list for medical reasons. She is struggling with pneumonia in shelter. While in care, she has shown fearful tendencies with handlers, but has begun to warm up and allow brief petting with a slow approach. She needs placement in a quiet home to recover.
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Chillin
Chillin 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.
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Celebration
Celebration 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.
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Uzi
Uzi is on the at-risk list due to behavior. Although he has been social and friendly with staff, Uzi has a prior bite/scratch history without known triggers and has shown signs of a potential for overstimulation. He is not thriving in the care center, and 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 plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience managing cats with overstimulation.
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Pitkin
Pitkin is on the at-risk list due to medical concerns. Pitkin required stabilization at an emergency hospital after being hit by a car. He sustained multiple traumatic injuries, including a repaired right forelimb laceration, superficial abrasions, suspected traumatic brain injury, suspected frontal skull fracture, and bilateral pneumothoraces that resolved with emergency treatment. Since transfer to the shelter, Pitkin has remained ambulatory but continues to require ongoing medical management for pain, nausea, hyporexia, intermittent altered mentation, and gastrointestinal signs including melena, hematochezia, and vomiting. He is currently receiving several medications for management and Pitkin would benefit from placement for continued supportive care and follow up. Behaviorally, he has understandably sensitive to touch but allows handling and warms up quickly.
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Sassy
Sassy is at risk due to behavioral concerns in the previous home. Sassy is reported to have initiated altercations with one of the other resident dogs, reportedly unprovoked. Each time, her owner has had to physically pull her off the other dog, as she would aim for the neck each time. The most recent incident resulted in a puncture to the other dog's face that was cleaned/treated at home. During her stay in care, Sassy has been intermittently social with handlers on her own terms, but at times does need coaxing to be returned to the kennel. Medically, Sassy is healthy at this time.
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Cool
Cool 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.
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Billy Bob

Billy Bob is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Despite our best efforts at making him comfortable. Billy has been showing signs of stress while in kennel. Such as persistently finger painting his kennel and digging at the transfer door while jumping at it. While out of kennel with handlers Billy is social and allows petting. Medically, Billy Bob is apparently healthy.
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Grapefruit
Grapefruit is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Grapefruit has been observed to be highly dog reactive. Noted to pull hard towards the other dogs in the kennel room while whipping her head back and forth with an open mouth. While on leash when she sees another dog, Grapefruit will begin vocalizing loudly and lunge towards them. She is also reported to jump towards bicycles on the street. With handlers, Grapefruit will have a loose body and soft face, she allows petting and is receptive to treats. Medically, Grapefruit is apparently healthy.
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Ragnar
Ragnar is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Ragnar has shown fearful behavior, including reluctance to walk, pancaking, avoiding handlers, and has on multiple occasions mounted handlers incessantly making it difficult to walk him safely at times. Ragnar has shown improvement over time, and has become social with select staff, though he continues to become overwhelmed in busier environments. Medically, Ragnar has Otitis externa.
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