Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro and Animal Care & Control kick off ‘Seniors for Seniors’ campaign
In October and November, Senior Citizens Can Adopt Senior Pets for Free
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – To encourage Staten Island seniors to adopt senior pets that will complement their lifestyle, Borough President James P. Molinaro and Animal Care & Control (AC&C) of New York City today kicked off a Seniors for Seniors campaign at a press conference at Borough Hall.
For the months of October and November, AC&C has lowered adoption fees 30 percent for adopters 55 years and older when they adopt a dog or cat 4 years old or older. The reduced fees are $50 for senior dogs and $20 for senior cats.
At the press conference, Molinaro announced that he will defray the entire cost for Staten Island seniors, so that those who wish to adopt a companion animal in October or November can do so for free.
“Under the inspired leadership of Ed Boks, Animal Care & Control has matched thousands of abandoned animals with caring New Yorkers willing to take them into their homes and into their hearts,” said Molinaro. “Today, I am inviting Staten Island’s seniors -- many of whom live alone on a fixed income – to adopt a senior companion animal for free during the next two months, because there’s nothing worse than loneliness.”
Last June, Molinaro announced the allocation of $496,000 in capital funding to AC&C for renovations to the Charleston shelter and to establish a spay and neuter clinic.
Ed Boks, Executive Director of AC&C, said, “Borough President Molinaro is definitely breaking new ground for helping our community’s seniors. I would like to invite all the other borough presidents to follow his example. Together, we can all contribute to AC&C’s mission to create happiness by bringing pets and people together.”
Medical and psychological studies confirm pets have a positive affect on an owner’s
health and happiness. As many senior citizens live alone and are isolated, taking care of pets can decrease depression, provide companionship, and instill a sense of purpose and a feeling of well-being.
Senior pets are frequently overlooked at animal shelters by potential adopters who opt for the adorable puppy or kitten, not realizing that older pets have already learned how to walk on a leash, are housebroken, tend not to be as destructive, and make “purr-fect” family members.
Since 2004, AC&C has been the organization responsible for New York City’s municipal shelter system, rescuing, caring for, and finding loving homes for homeless and abandoned animals. It is the only animal care organization in the City that never turns away animals. The Charleston shelter is located at 3139 Veterans Rd. West. It is open for adoptions every day from 12 Noon to 7:00 p.m. For more information, call (212) 788-4000, or visit www.nycacc.org.
October 6, 2005