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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Page 1 of 2 (34 total records)

Juno

Juno is on the at risk list for medical reasons. He is a friendly senior cat who was diagnosed with diabetes at the shelter. Juno will require long-term medical management for this disease. Juno has allowed for all medical handling and solicits attention during his exams.
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Sabby

Sabby is on the at-risk list for medical concerns. Sabby is a cat with a history of attacking her tail. She has now had two tail amputations and continues to self mutilate. Her most recent surgery is not healing properly because she was able to open it back up. She is on multiple pain medications, but will likely need a long-term anxiolytic medication and additional follow up veterinary care to manage the current tail amputation site. Behaviorally, Sabby is sweet and has allowed medical handling. Sabby is also At Risk for behavioral reasons. While Sabby is a sweet cat that allows all petting and handling, her self-mutilation behaviors are persistent and not manageable in a shelter setting. Her self-mutilating behaviors were pre-existing before she came into the shelter and have continued through her initial tail amputation that occurred while still with her previous owner, as well as the revision while in shelter care. Her behavior concern points to a likely neurological pathology that will require a neurological workup, consultation with a behavior certified vet, as well as a multimodal approach (anxiolytic/psychotropic & pain meds, behavior mod., and environmental alteration) to manage her likely compulsive self-mutilation. Should no pathologies be identified, further behavioral workups should also be sought out. She will require an experienced adopter/rescue group capable of managing daily care and diagnostics to ensure that Sabby's condition and self-mutilation be controlled to manage further trauma.
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Hazel

Hazel 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 bite/scratch incidents.
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Benicio

Benicio 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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Cajun Fries

Cajun Fries 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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Velveteen

Velveteen is at risk due to behavior concerns in care. Velveteen is reported to be reactive to dogs, lunging toward them and being unable to be redirected. She is also noted to pull hard on the leash, particularly when returning to the shelter. During walks, she may become tense and hypervigilant, requiring treats and coaxing to continue. She is noted to enjoy playing with balls with familiar handlers. Medically, Velveteen is apparently healthy.
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Sticky Keys

Sticky Keys is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Sticky Keys has been noted to display arousal concerns, jumping up on handlers, pull very hard, and becoming mouthy. Sticky Keys due to his exorbitant behavior he has knocked handlers over while they were kneeling, tangling his leash on handlers legs, and one instance nipping handlers finger while jumping up which didn't break skin. In kennel, Sticky Keys has been obseved to spin, vocalize, bite his tail, and the top of the kennel. Sticky Keys is noted to be a sweet dog who loves to sniff around once in a calmer state. Medically, Sticky Keys is apparently healthy.
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Lazuli

Lazuli 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. While she has warmed up to allowing brief pets in shelter while eating treats, she remains wary of petting and handling. 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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Koko

Koko is on the at-risk list for medical reasons. Koko has a significant hard palate defect/injury and severe facial swelling. She will need additional veterinary wound care and possibly surgery. At this time, Koko has a good appetite and is stable. Behaviorally, she has allowed all handling.
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Caprese

Caprese is at risk due to behavioral concerns in care. Caprese has been observed to have arousal issues resulting in him fixating on objects, biting his leash, jumping up, and barking at the neighboring dogs. Recently, Caprese had an incident where he bit and held a basket outside of the care center, being unable to be redirected easily. Another incident occurred where Caprese bit and held a hose on a walk, and he was unable to be redirected. Caprese is noted by staff and volunteers to be sweet, social, and enjoys pets. Medically, Caprese is apparently healthy
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Bionica

Bionica 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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Cub Scout

Cub Scout is at risk for behavior reasons. Cub Scout is deteriorating in care. He has become more hypervigilant on walks, escalating to barking or lunging at unfamiliar people. When being removed from kennel he will jump up and bite at the leash, then kennel fight with neighboring dogs. Cub Scout remains sweet and social while in the yard with familiar staff and volunteers, leaning into their laps, or lounging on the floor. He has done well greeting other dogs and was found along another male mixed breed. Medically, he is apparently healthy.
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Sylvana

Sylvana is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Initially in care, Sylvana was observed to be fearful. Noted to have a low body, whale eye, and will snap when the handler attempts to clip their leash. Recently Sylvanna has been observed to be kennel reactive. Noted to push off the wall and will fixate on the other dogs while growling and pulling towards them. While in kennel, Sylvana has been observed to be panting and pacing. With select handlers, Sylvana is social, receptive to treats, and will allow petting. Medically, Sylvana has dermatitis and otitis externa.
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Papa

Papa 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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Blue

Blue is at risk for behavior reasons. Blue was initially highly fearful of exiting his kennel, growling at staff and making himself small. He began to improve & is now exiting without issue. However, he is highly anxious when out and attempting to flee back to kennel. He will remain by the gate when in the yard, or pull back towards the care center. Medically, he is underweight, has a heart murmur and has experienced some lameness in the left front leg.
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Riley

Riley is at risk due to behavior concerns in care. Riley is reported to be reactive to dogs, noted to pull hard while exiting a room, and attempting to kennel fight. He is not able to be redirected easily. Staff reports kennel stress-related behaviors such as jumping up in the corners of his kennel and hard barking. Medically, Riley has some lameness in his right hind leg, and he is underweight.
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Kingston

Kingston is at risk due to behavior concerns. Kingston has demonstrated significant on-leash reactivity toward dogs, including fixating, hard pulling, loud screaming/vocalizing, and scratching at the floor to reach dogs. Once escalated, he can be difficult to redirect with treats or verbal cues. Kingston is noted to be social with handlers, seeking attention, allowing petting. Medically, Kingston has mild to moderate dental disease
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Stallone

Stallone 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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Leopard

Leopard is at risk due to behavior concerns. Leopard has demonstrated high arousal, hard pulling, and fixation toward dogs and birds, at times requiring staff to continuously muscle him away from dogs or small mammals. Leopard is social with handlers, allows petting, and has engaged in training. Medically, Leopard has mild to moderate dental disease, a Broken upper canine, a recovered injury on his ear. Due to Leopard having bite wounds upon intake, he is on a 6-month quarantine as per DOH and would need to follow specific guidelines in a home environment.
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Kalie

Kalie needs at risk placement for medical reasons. She is having difficulty walking in shelter due to severe right hip dysplasia and arthritis in her right knee. She needs an orthopedic consultation regarding a hip replacement.
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Cake

Cake needs at risk placement for medical reasons. She is a sweet girl with Diabetes Mellitus. She is on oral medication to regulate her blood sugar. She needs placement in a home and outpatient management with a local veterinarian to manage her condition long term.
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Telenovela

Telenovela is on the at risk list for medical reasons. Telenovela is a geriatric cat with a significant heart murmur and proBNP consistent with heart disease. He also has severe dental disease. He will need to be evaluated by a cardiologist to determine if he is stable for anesthesia for a dental procedure with placement. Behaviorally, he is nervous but has allowed handling.
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Egypt

Egypt is at risk due to behavioral reasons. In his previous home, Egypt has a history of redirection and biting when people attempt to interrupt him mounting the resident female dogs. These bites were bite and release that did break skin. His previous owner describes him as social and affectionate. While in care, Egypt has been observed to have a neutral body and wagging tail. While on walks, Egypt is aloof with handlers. Medically, Egypt has moderate to severe dental disease, lameness in their right front leg.
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Freddy

Freddy is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Freddy has been observed to be inconsistent in his dog reactivity. When seeing other dogs he is noted to hard pull, barking, screaming, staring. He has also displayed overly aroused, mouthy behavior toward handlers grabbing onto handler clothing when in the play yard. Freddy is noted to be social with familiar staff and checks in with handlers socially on walks. Medically, Freddy is apparently healthy.
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Toby Street

Toby needs at risk placement for medical reasons. He is a sweet geriatric boy with Diabetes Mellitus. He is on oral medication to regulate his blood sugar. He needs placement in a home and outpatient management with a local veterinarian to manage his condition long term.
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