Contact Your Rensselaer County Municipality Leader

Animals in Rensselaer County are suffering due to the lack of a dedicated animal shelter, and we need your voice to change that.

Right now, police officers cannot conduct animal cruelty seizures, as there is nowhere to bring rescued animals (which are evidence in cruelty cases). Dog control officers are forced to transport abandoned and stray animals in their personal vehicles, scrambling to find temporary placements. One officer alone is housing dogs for four towns — a completely unsustainable situation.

This crisis is not just about inconvenience—it’s about cruelty, public safety, and basic responsibility. In 2024 alone, there were over 400 reported dog bites

and at least two rabid cats in our county, that we know of. Yet, there is no facility to house dangerous or abandoned animals. Shelters and rescues that might help are already full, leaving countless animals to suffer, be abandoned, or perish.

Under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law (AML) Article 7, Section 114, towns and counties have the authority—and the duty—to establish a shelter for stray and dangerous dogs. Right now, our local leaders must hear from us loud and clear:

Rensselaer County needs a collaborative, county-wide shelter, and we need it now.

Take Action: Call Your Town Supervisor, City or Village Mayor Today!

We are calling on all Rensselaer County residents who care about animals to
demand action from their municipality leaders. Ask them to work together across town lines to fund and establish a shelter that will provide lifesaving care to animals in need.

📢 Call your Town Supervisor, City or Village Mayor today and say:

"Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [Your Municipality]. I am calling because I am deeply concerned about the lack of an animal shelter in Rensselaer County. Right now, animals are suffering, abandoned, and left without proper care because there is no county-wide shelter. Police cannot conduct cruelty seizures, dog control officers have nowhere to bring stray and abandoned animals, and dangerous animals are being left without intervention. Under New York State law, towns and counties have the power to establish shelters. I urge you to take immediate action to collaborate with other town leaders to create a humane, county-wide shelter that protects both animals and residents. Please let me know how you plan to address this urgent issue. Thank you."

Use the contact information provided on this page.