ASPCA Adoption Center — Attraction in New York

My experience with the ASPCA was an utter abomination. On Friday 12/16/2022 "Milkshake" was released to me as a fast-track foster. He was intended to be an adoption, but because of a potential ear surgery that he required, we had to foster until after the shelter vet performed the second surgery.

Upon meeting the behavior team, they mentioned in passing that he had grabbed at a person's pant leg during a walk and also had canine leash reactivity. This did not disuade them from releasing him to me. They sent me home with food, toys, and helped lead him into our Lyft ride home. It did not disuade me from taking him as I have been adopting dogs with behavioral issues for decades and am a certified trainer specializing in behavior.

As agreed, I returned with Milkshake to the shelter Sunday evening for his medical evaluation. I emailed prior to let them know that I did not believe a second surgery was necessary. With supervision and care the surgical site was no longer bleeding, but I would defer to the vet.

Upon meeting with ASPCA personnel, I stated that unless it was absolutely medically necessary it was not in Milkshake's best interest to remain overnight. I was told he must stay. I asked that due to his known reactivity to please not walk him (Manhattan is too stimulating), and if they must, please use a head harness and allow him to carry a tennis ball. My feed back was disregarded.

I was informed the following day that he was involved in an "incident" and the person required medical attention. How did this happen you ask? Sheer negligence.

After two days of being managed by the Director of Foster Relations (Eileen Hanavan), I was informed by the Senior Manager of Behavior (Adi Hovav) that Milkshake would be humanely euthanized due to the lack of warning signals and the severity of the incident. Let's examine this for a moment:

The shelter readily released a dog that had already exhibited canine and human reactivity to me on Friday. The shelter allowed the leash reactive dog to be walked by an "experienced handler" (volunteer) on a busy Manhattan street. I was told that the dog was being walked on the left side of the handler, but yet had enough freedom that he was able to cross in front and attack a person on the right. The shelter disregarded my feedback regarding proper safety and handling of the dog The dog had not displayed aggressive tendancies during his first few weeks in the shelter. This behavior surfaced after neuter surgery. It is not uncommon for a dog to display what are often temporary reactive tendencies soon after a neuter. The ASPCA was not open to discussing potential alternatives to euthanasia (e.g.; meds, rescues that specialize in behavioral issues, etc.) to allow the dog to decompress and potentially be rehabilitated.

My heart goes out to the individual that sustained injury. It is a horrific, traumatic incident that was completely avoidable.

My heart breaks for Milkshake who paid the ultimate price for human negligence and error.

I fully recognize that we can not allow dogs to pose a danger to society. I also know first hand, that many of these dogs can be worked with and rehabilitated to become good canine citizens. Have we learned nothing from the Bad Newz Kennel/Michael Vick debacle?

My assumption is that euthanization was the only option the ASPCA considered because of potential litigation from the victim. Euthanizing the animal just looks better in court.

Any way you look at it, the ASPCA made grave errors in judgement. If the dog was deemed dangerous enough to euthanize due to unpredictability, why was he being walked on a front clip harness (no control if his head) after already lunging at someone days prior? What humans are being held accountable for this? Any? Milkshake died in vain, alone, and was then carted to the dump. RIP sweet boy. You mattered and I will...

IHad A Bad Experience Because They Treated My Wife Katie Familia That Has A Emotional Mental Depression Major Anxiety Attacks With No Compassion They Threw Us Out Of The Facility We Had No Idea That They Were Not Letting People See The Dogs N Adopt Them Right Then And There N We Truthfully N Honestly Saw That A White Couple That Did Not Even Know About The Protocol neither. They just like us Thought That They Just show up n see the dogs n adopt the one the connect with I Explain To Them That The Procedure Was Not At All Like That That It WasvMore Complex But Quess What Happen They Were Drressed Up Better Than Us U Can Tell They Were From Manhattan N That They Were Well Off They Just Like Us They Did Not Have An Appointment This Worker Walked Towards Them And Asked Them If They Were Ready To See The Dogs Some Other White Worker Opened The Door To The Entrance Of The Kennels The Lady Never Asked Them If They Had An Appointment N The Black African Man That Was Waiting On Us Told Us To Leave He Escorted Us One More Time Out N He While We Were Outside Infront Of The Building He Told Me N My Wife U See That Camera Up There Just To Let U Know U Are Being Recorded Pretty Much He Was Threating Us N Warning Us Not To Go Back Inside Cause We Came N Took A Taxi All The Way From The Bronx N.We Have A Neighbor That Works For The Aspca In Manhattan N She Never Ever Told Us That We Have To Go On Line N Look For A Dog Then Make A Apppt Tnen Meet The Dog Then Wait To See If We ArevThe Right Candidates For The Dog Because Most Likely Other People Would Want The Same Dog I Am A Very Sick Person N I Had A Psychiatrist Phd Letter With Me For A Need Of A Animal Support Dog N I Broke Down In Tears N I Didnt Get No Sympathy No Compassion No Help They Could Have Atleast Directed Me To Other Animal Shelters That Did Not Have The Same Policy As Them Like Animal Cintrol Where They Are Dying To Adopt As Much Dogs As They Can Because They Euthanize Them After A Short Period Because They Cannot Afford To Take Care Of Them N They Don't Have The Space To Accommodate More Animals N I Rescued A Animal Before From Animal Control In Florida N Hes Happy Content Well Taken Care Of Hes With My Parents N Because My Parents Did Not Want To Part With Him Cause They Fell Inlove With Him As Much As Shilo Fell Inlove With Me N I With Him I Miss Him Too Death That There Is No Day No Afternoon No Night No MorningThat I Dont Think About Him Or Cry For My Baby I Will Hopefully See Him N My Family God Willing This Spring Cause He N My Parents Are My Heart N I Cant Live Without My Sweet 3 Hearts ! So If I Have To Adopt Another Dog From Florida Again From Where I Got My Baby Shilo Then So Be It Atleast They Wont Make It Hard On Me They Wont Treat Me Like I Am Incompedent Or Discriminate Against Me Because Of My Biopolar Severe 2 Depression Generilized Anxiety Panic Agrophobia Clostophobic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ! N I Love Dogs To Death ! Animals As Well Since I Was A Kid ! Also Like Cats But Severe Allergic To Them! I Suggest U Guys N Gals Rescue From Animal Kill Shelters! Which Also Known As Animal Control Shelters ! Sincerely Alexi y Katie...

I adopted a kitten after going through sort of a nightmare experience with a local adoption organization, and the contrasts between these two experiences emphasized the excellence of the ASPCA, its staff, and its volunteers. Founded in NYC in 1866, the ASPCA does a fantastic job of taking care of the city's animals, and educating pet owners. I was impressed by the friendliness and professionalism the staff and volunteers I met at the ASPCA. They set expectations clearly, and communicated well. When I went in on a Saturday morning, the kitty I wanted to adopt was not yet ready, but I was able to place her on hold. It was frustrating and a bit bewildering that they couldn't give me an indication of when she would be ready; I am sure there were good reasons for this. In any case, I appreciated that they had a way of reserving pets, and that once I committed to a pet, that they considered her "mine" until I decided otherwise. They called me the next morning with the news that she was ready to adopt. I got a bit emotional when they brought out this precious little kitten. Lia is only 2 months old but already spayed, up to date on shots, and microchipped and registered to my address; they also provide a metal tag with your phone number and the pet's name, and offer a veterinary voucher of $250. Given all that they do for the community, the cost, $125, seems very fair. They sent me home with literature on cats, as well as food samples and toys. The tone of the instruction I received was very even-handed, well researched, and not at all judgmental. I would adopt a pet from the ASPCA again; it was a very positive experience, and they earned my respect. I am taking off one star though, since I felt very rushed through the experience of adoption. I realize now that I should have adopted two kittens, but I did not have time to meet more kittens in the adoption center, and the volunteers and staff did not stress to me how important getting two kittens from the same litter at the same time (as opposed to adopting another unrelated cat) can be in terms of getting a well matched pair. I've also learned that they spend 20% of their budget on advertising, and that money donated to them does not go to local shelters across the US, even ones...