What to Know
- The City Council is deciding whether to approve a proposed 47,000-square foot state-of-the-art animal shelter near Co-op City in the Bronx
- Under a new law, every borough is required to have its own animal shelter by 202
- While many like the idea, others want the lot to dedicated instead for the Bronx youth and seniors
The City Council is deciding whether to approve a 47,000-square foot state-of-the-art animal shelter that would house more than 200 dogs and offer low-cost vet clinic in the Bronx.
Under a new law, every borough is required to have its own animal shelter by 2024. The Bronx and Queens are the only two boroughs are still without them.
"We have an opportunity to save animals' lives through adoption, through affordable medical services," said Edigio Sementilli of Bronx Animal Rights.
Jeanette Gonzalez, a Co-op City resident, often takes her pets to Fordham for affordable vet care at a mobile clinic, taking the 45-minute bus ride, then waiting in line. If the new shelter were built on Bartow Avenue, she could just walk across the street.
"Many of us can't travel to another location to get vet care, so this is a perfect location," she said.
But other residents aren't thrilled with the idea. Alfonso Gonzalez, also of Co-op City, thinks it will worsen the already congested traffic. And others want the lot to dedicated instead for the Bronx youth and seniors.
Local
"The Bronx has 1.5 million residents yet not one shelter," one person said at a public hearing before the City Council votes.
The City Planning Commission approved the site, but opponents say the land can be put to better use and want to see the animal shelter in a more isolated area.
Dr. Alvin Ponder of Community Board 10 said, "I believe the first requirement of an animal shelter should be the community has to agree to it. In this case, they do not."
