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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Nina
Nina is at risk due to behavior concerns. These concerns are from a previous reported bite. Nina has demonstrated consistently a low threshold for arousal while in care and in foster. Nina became aroused while on walk and started jumping and mouthing which ended with a wound on handler's arm. While she was previously in foster she was returned due to her behavior concerns. Nina allows handling, is social with her handlers, and very affectionate. Medically, Nina is apparently healthy.
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Winter
Winter 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. Winter is now beginning to accept treats and she has responded positively to gabapentin.
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Whittakers
Whittakers is on the At Risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display challenging behavior 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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Callie
Callie is on the at-risk list due to medical concerns. Callie is a nervous but friendly cat who was surrendered due to a change in her owners living situation. Callie has had intermittent diarrhea, vomiting, and decreased appetite while in our care. It has been determined that Callie has infiltrative bowel disease, but the underlying cause is unknown at this time. Callie will need follow up diagnostics with an outside veterinarian to help determine the cause of her bowel disease, and will likely need medication long term to manage it. Callie has allowed all handling during their exams and did well in her previous foster home in terms of her behavior.
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Yosemite
Yosemite 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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Garfield Theodore
Garfield Theodore is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display challenging behavior 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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Daba
Daba 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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Hughie
Hughie is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Hughie displays high amount stress, including slamming himself into the kennel door, persistent licking of the kennel door, chewing on the metal frame of his bed, and reluctance to return to kennel, he is noted to kennel fight. Hughie is social with staff, and loves going on walks but is struggling to acclimate in the care center. Medically, Hughie is apparently healthy.
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Doe
Doe 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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Ground Ginger
Ground Ginger 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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Couch Surfer
Couch Surfer is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Couch Surfer arrived as a stray. Upon arrival he was exuberantly social with staff; this was also noted during his handling assessment. Unfortunately, Couch Surfer has shown increased barrier frustration making it difficult to handle him safely. When being returned to kennel Couch Surfer has been observed to attempt to bite the kennel lock when handlers are securing his kennel. In one instance he caught the hand of a staff member leaving a small wound in their finger. When outside of the shelter environment Couch Surfer remains social with staff, often soliciting contact and is treat receptive. Medically, Couch Surfer is apparently healthy.
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Nectar
Nectar is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Nectar has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to remain at the back of the kennel and dodge the leash when handlers attempt to leash him. Recently Nectar has begun lip curling when handlers go to leash him. With select handlers, Nectar is receptive to coaxing and high value treats such as slices of cheese. Medically, Nectar has CIRDC.
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Diamond

Diamond is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Diamond has displayed significant dog-directed reactivity and escalation during dog greetings. Due to previous concerning behaviors noted, a fake dog assessment was conducted, Diamond immediately charged forward and pinned the fake dog to the ground. Diamond increasingly beoming more vocal and aroused. Diamond required an air can to disengage. In the Care Center, Diamond remains highly aroused and hypervigilant when returning to kennel, lunging and high-pitch vocalizing towards dogs being walked nearby. Diamond is very social with staff and volunteers, and loves to play fetch. Medically, Diamond is healthy at this time.
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Ace
Ace is at risk due to behavior concerns. In the Care Centers, Ace is highly fearful and can be difficult to remove from his kennel. Staff often need to use multiple high-value treats to encourage him to approach the front of the kennel so they can place their slip lead on him. He has been observed snarling on one occasion and thrashing while on leash. Although Ace readily accepts treats, he does not actively seek attention and prefers limited interaction, though he will tolerate gentle petting. Medically, Ace is on treatment for CIRDC.
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Squirrel
Squirrel 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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Winter
Winter 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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Colby
Colby is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Colby arrived at the shelter as a stray with limited history. Upon arrival Colby allowed handling with staff. Unfortunately, Colby has shown increasingly fearful behaviors and a decreasing threshold for arousal. Colby was reported to be fearful during his handling assessment and frequently does not walk on sidewalk for relief walks, however he does use the play-yards more comfortably. Recently, Colby has been showing a decreasing threshold for arousal. In once instance Colby attempted to redirect on to a handler when kennel fighting. When outside in the play yard, Colby is treat receptive and allows petting with a neutral body. Medically, Colby is apparently healthy.
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Big Foot
Big Foot is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Big Foot was returned to the shelter due to behavior reported by his recent adopter. Big Foot was reported to be highly reactive to people when on leash; noted to growl, bark, and lunge when seeing people on walks. In shelter, Big Foot is noted to have brief, low level reactivity towards unfamiliar people and visually fixate on dogs. During his previous and current stay, Big Foot is often described as 'easy walk' for the majority of his interactions. He continues to be very social with staff, and allows all contact with a soft body, including medical exams. Medically, Big Foot is noted to have otitis externa due to suspected allergies but is otherwise healthy.
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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 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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Sprocket
Sprocket is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Sprocket has displayed leash biting, fixating and snapping toward hands during handling, and resistance returning to kennel, including pancaking and snarling when pressure was applied to attempt to move him. Sprocket is social with familiar handlers, seeks out petting and treats. Medically, Sprocket is being treated for persistent CIRDC infection, pododermatitis which has been improving, callous/masses that have improved during stay, and is underweight.
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Shiny
Shiny is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the Care Center, Shiny displays high stress deterioration & repetitive behaviors including spinning, pacing, vocalizing, and soiling the kennel while being unable to settle. Shiny was found running loose on the BQE and when emergency services attempted to capture her, she did bite one of them which broke skin. In the Care Center, Shiny is becoming more social outside of kennel with staff and volunteers. Despite this in kennel we are unable to break the harmful kennel syndrome behaviors for any significant amount of time that benefits Shiny. Medically, Shiny recently recovered from CIRDC and is physically healthy at this time.
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Capone
Capone is at risk due to behavioral reasons. While in care, Capone has been observed to be fearful, noted to retreat from kennel and a sling is needed to return him. He has also been observed to head whip when handlers initiate contact and when a sling is being used. Recently, he has begun to kennel fight, pulling hard towards the other dogs in their kennels, tense body and can not be distracted. His previous owner describes him as active and playful. While out with handlers, Capone is social with a loose body. Medically, Capone is apparently healthy.
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Prospector
Prospector is at risk due to behavioral reasons. He has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. During intake he was observed to growl, lip curl, and snap when handlers were attempting to leash him. While in care he is noted to urinate on himself when handlers interact with him. In kennel, he is receptive to verbal coaxing and chicken. Medically, Prospector is overweight.
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Blossom
Blossom is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Blossom has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to hard bark, lunge, snap, and muzzle punch the kennel door when handlers approach. During intake Blossom was also observed to quickly escalate to hard barking and snapping. Recently Blossom has warmed up to select handlers and has been allowing handling. Medically Blossom is overweight and has CIRDC.
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Ice Age
Ice age needs at risk placement for medical reasons. He is a young friendly dog with pneumonia and is not eating in shelter. He needs supportive care in a hospital setting in order to recover.
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