Injured or Sick Animal

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) does not accept reports about healthy stray or mother cats that are still taking care of their kittens.

During business hours, ACC accepts reports of sick or injured stray dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. 

You can also call 411 or search the internet to find emergency veterinary care and advice at your own cost.  If a stray cat is a nuisance, you can bring the cat to any ACC Care Center.  

If you are able to safely contain the animal and are unable to provide vet care you can get help by phone or by email to arrange a time for you to bring the cat in and to allow ACC to prepare for the pet’s arrival.

Always use caution if you choose to help an injured or sick animal.

Online

Email: CommunityCats@nycacc.org

By Phone

During business hours, you can report certain wildlife or endangered species that are injured or sick to Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), such as:

• Deer
• Geese 
• Falcons

You can also report sick or injured animals that can carry rabies to ACC, including:

• Raccoons
• Opossums
• Skunks 
• Bats

ACC does not accept reports about healthy wildlife.

You may also contact a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) licensed wildlife rehabilitator. A list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the DEC website.

Visit the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website.

Always use caution around sick or injured wildlife. Do not attempt to trap animals that can carry rabies.  Symptoms of rabies in animals include:

• Extremely aggressive behavior
• Paralysis, staggering, walking in circles or difficulty walking
• Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth
• Convulsing, spitting, choking
• Staring into space or being in same spot for 24 hours 
• Unusual behavior, such as biting itself

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) will accept injured or sick small animals and common birds if you bring them to one of ACC's Care Center drop-off locations.  ACC will not pick them up from you. 

Examples of injured or sick small animals that ACC will not pick up include:

• Squirrels
• Robins
• Sparrows
• Pigeons
• Starlings
• Seagulls

Do not attempt to trap sick or injured wildlife that can carry rabies.  Symptoms of rabies in animals include:

• Lethargy 
• Confusion or disorientation
• Difficulty moving or walking/paralysis
• Unusual or extreme aggression
• Eating or chewing objects, such as wood, soil, stones, plants or other unusual materials
• Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth
• Abnormal behavior, such as a wild animal that does not shy away from people            

You may also contact a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) licensed wildlife rehabilitator. A list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the DEC website.

Visit the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website.

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) does not respond to reports of sick or injured pets. 

You can call 411 or search the internet to find an Animal Hospital or veterinarian.

ACC has three Care Centers for animal adoptions that are open from noon to 7 PM, 7 days a week (except major holidays). They are located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.  

ACC provides euthanasia services but not private cremation services.

The fees are: 

• $35 to offer a pet for adoption
• $125 to euthanize

All forms of payment are accepted.

There are Animal Care Center offices and drop-off locations across New York City.

Most require an appointment and are closed on the following holidays:

• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• New Year's Day

You can report wild, stray or injured animals in parks to the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The City responds only to sick or injured wildlife or stray or injured animals in parks. 

DPR does not handle reports about healthy pigeons and squirrels.

You can report a beached, sick, or stranded marine animal such as a seal, turtle, or whale.

For animals not in a park you can get assistance by phone.

Online