YONKERS ANIMAL SHELTER

This petition is being signed by residents and taxpayers in Yonkers to request that the city move forward in the construction of a new Yonkers Animal Shelter. This petition has been triggered by the size and significant deterioration of the current facility.

 The shelter is significantly undersized for a city that boasts of a population of approximately 200,000 people. Sizing of a shelter (According to the national average) should be between 3 and 4 percent of the population. The YAS handles on the average, 8 to 9 hundred animals per year. In addition, the City spends about $2.50 per capita whereas the national average is between 4 and 6 dollars.

The ventilation in the one sick room is non existent and throughout the other inner rooms, it is almost as bad.. As a result, the health of the YAS staff, the volunteers and the visiting public are placed in jeopardy.

 The dog%u2019s runs are in bad condition with deteriorating concrete preventing the proper operation of the guillotine type doors. While the issue of inadequate ventilation is not a factor in the dog runs, the opposite is true. The inoperative guillotines have resulted in the dogs being exposed to the outside air coming into the shelter. There is no heat in these runs due to the outdated wiring.  Outside pens are held closed with belts and chains since the latches are broken.  There is no space available for potential adopters to meet with the animals.

During 2005, $2.3 million was allocated by the Parks and Recreation Department in the Capital Budget for the construction of a new shelter. This was approved by the City Council. This was a golden opportunity that was missed, since the only other major project to be undertaken this year was the refurbishment of the JFK Marina.

As the City tries to move forward into the 21st Century and upgrade its image, we agree with your position that we should become a leader. Projects already in implementation, such as the beautification of the Parks throughout Yonkers have received high praise by the residents. Other projects underway and in the planning stage such as the beautification of the river front, the new ballpark coupled with the uncovering  of the Nepperhan creek, and the Ridge Hill development all reflect careful and progressive planning.  We feel that the construction of a new animal shelter deserves every bit of consideration to go ahead as well. We certainly feel that a new shelter should provide sufficient facilities to allow the efficient processing, handling and socialization of the resident animals more in line with a city as large as Yonkers

Citizens of Yonkers