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

Clear filters
Page 1 of 2 (28 total records)

Paris
Paris is currently at risk due to behavior reasons. Initially Paris was very fearful at the care center. When handlers tried to interact with her she was observed to become tense with low body, growling, seeking exit, and avoiding contact. With time and a slow approach, Paris has shown significant improvement with sociability with staff. While she remains fearful at times, Paris has recently begun to be easily walked, solicit contact, and be treat receptive with staff. Medically, Paris is apparently healthy.
View more..

Cardi
Cardi is at risk for behavior reasons. Cardi is deteriorating in care and causing harm to herself in her kennel. She will fixate on the transfer door and chew, her face and paws swelling. She is very sweet and social with staff and volunteers. However, she should be the only dog in the home. Medically, Cardi has periodontal disease, mammary gland tumors and a dermal mass.  Cardi was underweight when she arrived at the shelter.  While blood work was consistent with her body condition, chronic disease including liver or GI disease is possible.  
View more..

Pretty Pickle
Pretty Pickle 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 bite/scratch incidents.
View more..

Tarmack
Tarmack is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Initially, Tarmack was observed to be highly fearful. Noted to growl and lunge towards people. During his assessment Tarmack was observed to have a tense body, show whale eye, and lip lick. Overtime Tarmack has warmed up to handlers. Tarmack has also been observed to pull hard towards other dogs in the kennel room and while on the street. During one instance, Tarmack attempted to jump through the gate to get closer to another dog. Medically, Tarmack is apparently healthy.
View more..

Oberon
Oberon is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Despite our best efforts to make him comfortable, Oberon has been observed to be stressed in kennel. Noted to be heavily panting, pacing, hypersalivating, and finger paint his kennel with feces. During intake Oberon was observed to hard bark and lunge towards other dogs. With staff Oberon has been noted to be social, soliciting contact, and treat receptive. Medically, Oberon is underweight.
View more..

Navy Blue
Navy Blue is at risk due to behavior concerns. In the Care Centers, Navy Blue presents as highly fearful. When staff attempt to pet or interact with him, he becomes tense and exhibits hard staring. On one occasion, he was observed lunging at staff while in his kennel. Navy Blue has displayed some social behavior when no physical contact is attempted. Medically, Navy Blue has CIRDC and recieving treatment.
View more..

Bitsy Beauty
Bitsy Beauty is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Bitsy Beauty arrived at the Care Center as an owner surrender due to housing concerns. Bitsy Beauty's previous owner noted she is enjoys playing with plush toys and likes to stay close with familiar people. During handling assessments Bitsy Beauty has retreated from handlers, and at times became tense bodied with a tucked tail. When handlers first approached her kennel, Bitsy Beauty was noted to be fearful, retreating to the back of her kennel. With time and a slow approach, Bitsy Beauty has allowed easier leashing for walks; become treat receptive, and allow petting. Medically, Bitsy Beauty is being treated for CIRDC.
View more..

Blizzard
Blizzard is on the at-risk list for medical reasons. Blizzard has FIV and persistent skin lesions that have not responded to treatment in shelter. We suspect the underlying cause is allergies, and Blizzard may need to be on a long-term medication that is not available in shelter. Behaviorally, Blizzard has allowed medical handling and is social, leaning into petting.
View more..

Sunny
Sunny is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Sunny has shown handling sensitivity during leashing, including growling, snapping toward the lead, and tensing. Sunny is social with out of his kennel, but is struggling in the care center despite best efforts to keep him comfortable. Medically, Sunny is apparently healthy.
View more..

Bless
Bless is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Bless has shown a very high level of fearfulness and defensive aggression in care. Bless has shown avoidance and fear with certain staff, including growling, baring teeth, lunging, and escalating when unfamiliar or secondary handlers enter the space he is in. Bless is social with familiar staff, but has shown high level of reactivity towards strangers. Medically, Bless is apparently healthy.
View more..

Xylos
Xylos is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Xylos arrived at the Care Center as a stray with no known history. Xylos was noted to be social and wiggly bodied for his intake medical exam. Xylos has been observed to have poor impulse control and mouthiness during his stay. While Xylos is food motivated, he has been observed to take treats with hard pressure from handlers. Xylos has been mouthy toward the hands of staff members when leashing or during interactions. In another instance, Xylos jumped toward a person on the sidewalk attempting to mouth them. Xylos continues to be social with staff, allowing all contact with a loose, wiggly body. Medically, Xylos is apparently healthy.
View more..

Central
Central is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Central has been observed to be highly dog reactive during his stay in the care center. Noted to hard bark, snap, and lunge towards the other dogs in the kennel room. While exiting kennel Central is observed to kick off the wall and off the handler's legs attempting to get closer to the neighboring dogs. While on the leash Central is also observed to hard bark and lunge towards the other leash while in the yard. During intake Central was observed to thrash on leash and mouth the officer on the arm. Medically, Central is on treatment for CIRDC.
View more..

Moo-Lan
Moo-Lan is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Moo-Lan has displayed a concerning level of on-leash reactivity and leash biting during her stay in care. During a brief stay in a foster home, Moo-Lan was also reported to hard bark and lunge at other dogs during walks. She recently escalated to biting a staff member on the wrist while leash biting. After, she attempted to redirect to the same handler after reacting to another dog. Moo-Lan has been highly social with staff and caretakers and readily accepts treats and engages in enrichment games. Medically, Moo-Lan is apparently healthy.
View more..

Etho
Etho is at risk due to behavior concerns. In the Care Centers, Etho was reported to engage in kennel fighting with other dogs and, on one occasion, attempted to redirect onto a handler. She displays signs of anxiety and at times refuses to return to her kennel. She has been observed taking treats when in a calmer environment. Medically, Etho is apparently healthy.
View more..

Oreo
Oreo needs placement for medical reasons. She currently has a moderate upper respiratory infection and is not eating. Due to her stress when handled we are unable to provide more aggressive care. She needs more care than we can safely administer in shelter. She needs a quiet environment where she can recover from her URI and decompress.
View more..

Starlight
Starlight is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Starlight was returned to the shelter due to concerning fearful-defensive behaviors in the home. In the Care Center, Starlight has been difficult to return to kennel. Starlight has been observed to baulk, pancake, turn away, and thrash at times when handlers try to return him to kennel. When out with staff, Starlight is observed to have poor impulse control but is social, treat receptive, and solicits contact. Medically, Starlight is apparently healthy.
View more..

Cookie
Cookie 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.
View more..

Bella

Bella is on the At Risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display challenging behavior during interactions. She 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 her mind and body, the cat may react with rough play, potentially resulting in bite/scratch incidents. 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 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.
View more..

Lyric
Lyric is at risk for behavior reasons. Lyric is reactive on leash towards people and dogs. He does warm up relatively quickly but needs an owner experienced with managing this behavior. Lyric is highly fearful and anxious in Care as well as in his previous home. Medically, he was treated for an ear infection and has some pyoderma.
View more..

Buddy
Buddy is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Buddy was returned to the Care Center due to on-leash reactivity toward other dogs. This was also reported by Buddy's original owner in his first stay at the Care Center. Despite efforts to keep him comfortable, Buddy has been stressed in kennel. He has been observed to be consistently hard bark at staff approaching or passing by his kennel. Buddy is also showing a decreasing threshold for arousal. In one instance Buddy attempted to bite the lock of his kennel when a staff member was attempting to leash him. Buddy was also reported in two separate instances to bite handlers' lower legs shortly after exiting kennel, no broken skin. When outside of the kennel environment, Buddy is social with staff, solicits contact, and is treat receptive. Medically, Buddy is apparently healthy.
View more..

Megabron
Megabron is at risk due to behavioral concerns. During his stay at our care center, Megabron has refused to return to kennel with a tense body and lip licking. He pushes hard to flee back out of kennel. It has been observed Megabron pulls very hard towards other dogs with a tense body and hard stares at them without being easily redirected. During Megabron's assessment he grips a toy firm, engages with it, becomes tense and hovers over the toy when the assess-a-hand approaches. Staff reported that Megabron lunged and growled at someone on the street. Megabron is receptive to treats and allows petting from handlers. He enjoys various toys and engages with enrichment. Medically, Megabron has dental disease but is otherside healthy at this time.
View more..

Kitty
Kitty is on the at-risk list for medical concerns. Kitty is a sweet older boy who has been struggling in the shelter with persistent upper respiratory infection that has caused oral ulceration. Kitty has allowed all handling for treatments. Kitty would do better in a lower stress environment and with more individual attention to help him get over his infection.
View more..

Blue Blue
Blue Blue 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/her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
View more..

Chloe
Chloe is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns and behavior concerns in her previous home. Chloe shows intense reactivity toward unfamiliar people, including barking, lunging, and growling when new staff enter the room or pass in the hallway. Chloe can be redirected with treats and distance, but at times will continue to escalate towards strangers. Chloe is social with familiar staff, but struggling to acclimate in the care center. Medically, Chloe is Obese, acute lameness in her left hind leg, and dermatitis.
View more..

Zoe
Zoe is at risk due to behavior concerns. Zoe was surrendered to the Care Centers following an altercation with two resident dogs in the home, which resulted in injuries to all dogs involved. The owner reported that Zoe had been reactive toward other dogs for some time. In the Care Centers, Zoe has been social with staff. Medically, Zoe has bite wounds that are in the process of healing but is otherwise currently healthy.
View more..