City Opens First Ever Full-service Animal Shelter in Queens - NYC Health

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City Opens First Ever Full-service Animal Shelter in Queens

The 50,000 Square-Foot Animal Care Center to Offer Pet Adoptions, Surrender Prevention Resources, Lost & Found Assistance, and Community-Centered Pet Initiatives

Queens, NY — Today the City announced the opening of the new Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center. The Center represents the City’s ongoing commitment to its furriest, four-legged residents – as well as their human families.

"Paul Vallone was a longtime friend, but, more importantly, a true public servant who served our city throughout his career,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Paul was a committed advocate for veterans, serving those who have served our country, and fought to protect those most in need, including animals. The Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center will forever cement his legacy to public service, creating a space for Queens residents to find support and resources to help them keep their pets, and to learn more about helping animals in need.”

“Not only do pets enrich our lives with love and companionship, but also the human-animal bond is associated with lower stress and anxiety levels,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “In fact, pets have been shown to increase our connection with other humans and our communities. Animals enhance the well-being of society as a whole, and they deserve our care and compassion.”

“We are incredibly proud to have partnered with the City of New York, the Department of Health and everyone who worked so hard to make this new state-of-the-art care center a reality—the first of its kind in Queens. This marks a historic moment for the borough, and we are excited to provide world-class care to animals in need of homes while also serving as a vital resource for the pet-loving community of Queens,” said Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) President and Chief Executive Officer Risa Weinstock. "It is a special honor for ACC to have this magnificent building named for the late Paul A. Vallone, a dedicated advocate for both animals and this community, and a champion of ACC.”

Located at 1906 Flushing Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens, the borough’s full-service shelter offers pet adoptions, surrender prevention resources, lost & found assistance, and community-centered pet initiatives. The 50,000 square-foot facility will feature a kitten nursery, outdoor dog play yards, open roam cat rooms, an education center, a wellness wing for sick animals as well as private counseling rooms for owners needing assistance with their pets. The state-of-the-art building has space for approximately 300 animals and includes a retractable roof that lets in fresh air, as well as other enhancements for the well-being of the animals.

The City’s animal shelters are overseen by the Health Department and operated by Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), an independent nonprofit contracted by the city.

The project cost $75 million including clean up of the site, part of the New York State Department of Environmental (DEC) Brownfield Cleanup Program, for which ACC was awarded the 2024 Big Apple Brownfield Award for Innovative Purpose.

The Queens Care Center is one part of the City’s efforts to open full-service animal care facilities in every borough. The Department of Design and Construction is currently working on a new adoption center in Manhattan and a new Animal Care Center in the Bronx, in addition to undertaking a full renovation of the Care Center in Brooklyn. In October 2022, the City celebrated the completion of the Animal Care Center in Staten Island which was recipient of the Masterworks Design Award for Best New Building of 2023.

Founded in 1995, Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end animal homelessness in New York City. As the only open-admission shelter serving New York City, ACC provides a haven for thousands of homeless, abandoned, and neglected animals each year, regardless of age, breed, or medical condition.

With a team of compassionate staff and volunteers, ACC offers a comprehensive range of services, including adoption, fostering, veterinary care, behavior training, and community outreach. Founded on the principles of compassion, integrity, and respect for all living creatures, ACC strives to create a more compassionate and humane society by raising awareness about animal welfare issues and providing resources to support pet owners and communities.

For more information about Animal Care Centers of NYC and how you can get involved, visit NYC ACC.

The Center was named for the late Paul Vallone who served as deputy commissioner for external affairs at the New York City Department of Veterans Services (DVS) and previously represented District 19 in Queens in the New York City Council. As a councilmember, Vallone was a champion for animal welfare and advocated for improving the conditions for animals in New York City.

“We are so proud of Paul and everything he accomplished,” said Anna-Marie Vallone. “He will continue to spread the gift of unconditional love to animals and families for generations to come. With heartfelt gratitude, our family has wanted a shelter in every borough for years and Paul was able to make this a reality. With lots of empathy, kindness, and compassion, Paul made this world a better place. Like my daughter, Lea said, ‘I cannot think of an animal that didn’t love him back.’”

“The naming of the Queens Animal Shelter after the late Paul Vallone is a fitting honor that ensures Paul’s legacy of compassion and advocacy for animals live on,” said NYC Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner James Hendon. “As a former councilmember and deputy commissioner for our agency, Paul was a staunch advocate who championed animal care with the same passion and commitment that defined his years in public service. We are confident this meaningful tribute will continue to inspire and protect the animals of New York City for generations to come.”

“Every borough should have an animal care facility, but for many years, Queens was without one. With today’s opening of the Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center, Queens now has a state-of-the-art facility that will provide essential services for our community's animals,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman, Chair of the Health Committee. “Together, we are making Queens a safer and more compassionate place for our animals while also supporting responsible pet ownership. The center’s work will strengthen our efforts to protect public health through humane care and education. Thank you to Speaker Adrienne E. Adams whose strong advocacy made the funding for this facility possible, and to Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Ashwin Vasan for their strong support for the completion of this project.”

“Today we celebrate a long-awaited milestone that reflects our city and our administration’s commitment to maintaining full-service animal shelters in every borough,” said Director of the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare Alexandra Silver. “This beautiful, welcoming new center provides an essential resource to Queens residents, and is named for a remarkably compassionate human being. We can further honor Paul Vallone by adopting or fostering an animal, volunteering at the center, or encouraging others to do so. Congratulations and thank you to the staff, volunteers, and supporters of ACC for their dedication to caring for animals and the people who love them.”

“The opening of the Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center represents an enormous opportunity for vulnerable animals who will no longer need to be transported to shelters in other boroughs, which will give local homeless animals their best chances at finding loving homes, facilitate reunions of lost pets with their families, and alleviate pressure on shelter operations at the other facilities,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO. “The ASPCA works closely with Animal Care Centers of NYC to reduce euthanasia, increase adoptions, and improve access to care for New York City’s most vulnerable animals, and we look forward to continuing that longstanding support as ACC expands its services to help even more animals in need in Queens and across the city.”

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HEALTH DEPARTMENT MEDIA CONTACT: Patrick Gallahue, PressOffice@health.nyc.gov

ACC MEDIA CONTACT: Katy Hansen, khansen@nycacc.org