About Us
Mission Statement
The SRAC was formed to create an entity whose primary goal is to improve the quality of life and treatment of New York City's homeless animals, including those in the City's animal shelter system.
We also recognized that NYC's animal shelter system is also a reflection of failures from outside its shelter walls. Thus, in addition to disseminating information about conditions within the shelter system, SRAC addresses a variety of animal-related issues to help reduce animal homelessness generally:
The dissemination of Humane Education both to New York City school children and adults, including what is required to be a responsible pet owner.
Helping ensure the wider availability of low cost or free spay/neuter services, veterinary care, vaccinations of dogs and cats to qualifying pet owners, and licensing of dogs.
Advocating for increased support for Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR), the only humane means to stem the tide of the City's feral cat population.
Advocating for effective enforcement of anti-cruelty laws, including shutting down dogfighting rings.
SRAC's Achievements
Over the years SRAC has succeeded in opening up AC&C Board Meetings to the public, exposing mismanagement, dysfunction and crippling conflicts of interests, hastening the exit of various incompetents from AC&C management, and educating the public about animal welfare conditions both inside and outside the AC&C shelter walls.
SRAC has also served as an invaluable clearinghouse of information for individuals and groups interested in the welfare of NYC's animals.
What Still Needs to be Done
NYC's animal shelter system should have as its central goal the humane care of the City's homeless pet population. Without that core purpose it cannot hope to attract the skilled leadership and needed funding to run what this great city deserves: a world class shelter system.
Shelter conditions are exacerbated by problems originating outside the shelter walls:
Far more support is needed to provide Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) services for feral cats. Without TNR New York City cannot hope to humanely stem the tsunami of kittens that flood AC&C shelters every year.
New York City public schools fail to teach humane education thereby ensuring that generation after generation of children grow up without being taught empathy for animals and the core responsibilities of being a pet owner.
Responsible pet owners face arbitrary rules limiting or barring the number or kind of pets they may own, often forcing them to relinquish their pets.
Animal cruelty continues to plague NYC, due in part to the lack of humane education as well as effective enforcement of anti-cruelty laws.
Millions of dollars in potential funding for the shelter system are lost due to failure to encourage and enforce dog licensing.
NYC pet shops continue to profit from the sale of "puppy mill" animals, many of which (or their progeny) end up at the AC&C or compete with AC&C animals seeking new homes.
AC&C's animal population is a reflection of all of those failures.
Creating a humane and progressive shelter system involves two simultaneous steps: educating the public about the problems contributing to animal homelessness while providing concrete solutions to those very problems.
That has been been SRAC's focus over the years.
Will you help in our efforts?
Who We Are
Shelter Reform Action Committee History
In 1994 the Animal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) refused to renew its contract with the City's Department of Health (DOH) to run NYC's animal shelter system.
The ASPCA cited chronic underfunding by the DOH.
In response Mayor Rudolph Giuiliani and the DOH created an entity called "Center for Animal Care & Control" (later shortened to "Animal Care & Control") to take over servicing that contract. The City claimed the AC&C was an "independent" charity, but its corporate structure ensured that the humane treatment of animals would never be a priority.
In response a group of animal advocates created "Shelter Reform Action Committee" to spread the alarm.
As SRAC predicted, through the years the AC&C has suffered from many "lacks": lack of funding, lack of space, lack of skilled and committed leadership, lack of transparency, and lack of public confidence and support.
The Original SRAC Board
The original executive committee consisted of: Gary Kaskel (co-chair), Marie Mar (co-chair), Julie Van Ness (treasurer) and Barbara Stagno (secretary). Other founding members included Livi French, Patty Adjamine and Carol Caver.
Together these founding members reflected dozens and dozens of years serving as animal advocates and/or rescuers.
SRAC'S Executive Committee
SRAC is a coalition of animal advocates, rescue organizations, and concerned citizens. Our activities are funded through the volunteerism and generosity of those who care about the quality of life and treatment of New York City's homeless animals, including animals in the City animal shelter system.
Esther Koslow (President) joined the SRAC Board in October 2009 shortly after resigning as an AC&C volunteer just as the Department of Health began to slash the AC&C's budget, which resulted in the slashing of core shelter services and staff. During her time at the AC&C, Esther worked with management, rescuers and other volunteers in an attempt to improve shelter conditions and operations. Esther currently has 3 rescued dogs and 2 rescued tortoises. She is a former litigator.
Cats and dogs have always been an important part of Michael Kepple’s (Treasurer) life. Michael joined SRAC after experiencing firsthand the AC&C’s neglect of its animal and the obstacles the AC&C place on adopting a shelter animal. In late 2011, he and his wife wanted to adopt a cat from the AC&C. But it took 3 days and a total of 9 hours to maneuver through the AC&C hurdles. The cat had fallen sick of a cold (which it caught AT the shelter), and its behavior was downgraded to “unadoptable” (because the cat became sick and scared). Only by challenging the AC&C’s excuses for killing the cat rather than allowing its adoption, were Michael and his wife able to welcome the cat (Petunia) into their family. During this experience Michael learned that AC&C is broken and in urgent need of repair. Michael believes that with the support of a concerned community members, and the assistance of SRAC, we can make NYC a true no-kill city. He brings to the SRAC board his skills in IT and web development to reinforce the SRAC's momentum for change.
Louise Enten (Secretary) is a licensed social worker and long-time animal rescuer and advocate. She regularly fosters dogs for AC&C New Hope rescuers, and is a volunteer with Best Friends Animal Society and Animal Haven. She is currently pursuing a career in humane education and hopes to instill in children the desire and capacity to live with compassion and possess the knowledge and tools to put humane values into action.