It's Your Money NYC: Hold Your Government Accountable

Funding for '09

$ 9,596,000

Employees

13

Who funds this program?

City

9,524,000 (99%)

State

72,000 (1%)

How is the money spent?

Salaries

941,000 (10%)

Supplies

71,000 (1%)

Property & Equipment

4,000 (Less than 1%)

Contracted Services

8,574,000 (89%)

Other and Fixed Charges

6,000 (Less than 1%)

What your money funds:

This program funds Veterinary Public Health Services (VPHS), which is responsible for protecting the public from animal borne diseases and nuisances by controlling and regulating animals.

1. New York City Animal Care and Control: VPHS contracts with NYCACC, a not-for-profit organization that has been responsible for New York City's municipal shelter system since 1995. There is one NYCACC shelter in each borough. Between March 2008 and February 2009, CACC took in about 40,074 stray dogs and cats, and administered the adoption of about half this number. They also returned about 1,500 to their owners.
2. VPHS monitors carriage horses to ensure for the safe and humane operation of the industry and offers a course to train carriage horse drivers. All drivers are required to pass this course in order to operate a hansom cab in New York City. VPHS also monitors other horses for hire in the city. All working horses must have a permit which is issued by VPHS and is renewable annually.
3. The City has many laws that apply to the keeping of animals, some of which carry fines of up to $2,000 per violation. Some of the regulations pertaining to animals are the Dog License Law, the Dog Leash Law, the Canine Waste Law (Pooper Scoop"), the Rabies Vaccination Law and the Animal Nuisance Law. VPHS works with the Police, the Parks Department, the Sanitation Department and other agencies to enforce these regulations.
4. In FY08, the City issued 105,000 dog licenses. A dog license falls somewhere between $8.00 and $11.00 a year, depending on if the dog is neutered.