Tips on finding animals new homes

If you have a cat you can’t keep, DON’T throw them onto the street—they won’t survive. Take the time to find a new home. It takes some patience, but it works, and it’s worth it! The same is true if you find a friendly cat on the street and would like to help.

Homeless cat in Brooklyn

Unfortunately, most rescue organizations in the city are overextended and can’t take in new cats. Also, many cat shelters will kill cats they can’t place. So the best thing to do is first try to find them a home yourself, using available resources. Excellent advice for anyone trying to get an animal adopted can be found at the Best Friends for Animal Society.

Can you temporarily house the animal?

If you are able to foster the animal and would like to post an adoption listing with us, please click here for more information.

Domestic Violence

If you are experiencing domestic violence and are worried about your pet, please reach out to the Urban Resource Institute’s People and Animals Living Safely (URIPALS) program for resources that may be able to help.

Renting

If you are worried about a “no-pets” clause in an apartment lease, please consult this guide: Keeping Your Pet in a NYC Apartment. It contains information about your options, including using the Pet Law to your advantage. (The “Pet Law” states that any resident who openly keeps an animal in their apartment for 3 months or longer is entitled to keep that pet. Please consult the guide for more information.)

No-Kill Shelters

There are some no-kill shelters in New York, though they will often have long waiting lists:

Bide-A-Wee
410 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel. (866) 262-8133; (212) 532-4455

North Shore Animal League
25 Davis Avenue
Port Washington, NY 11050
Tel. (516) 883-7575

ASPCA
Free spay/neuter and vaccination for low income pet owners
Tel. (877) SPAY-NYC

Sean Casey Animal Rescue
– Dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, exotics
153 East 3rd Street
Brooklyn, New York 11218
Tel. (718) 436-5163
info@nyanimalrescue.org

Social Tees Animal Rescue
– Dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, exotics
contact@socialteesnyc.org

Bergen County Protect and Rescue Foundation
Tel. (201) 945-0649
rescueme@bcrescues.org

ACC

You can also take an animal to the Center for Animal Care and Control. But be aware that they are NOT no-kill. They will make an effort to find animals a home, but older or sick animals are likely to be euthanized.

Animal Care and Control
336 Linden Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Tel. (212) 788-4000

For a comprehensive list of local animal organizations and vet clinics, please visit our Additional Resources page.