City Opens First Full-Service Animal Shelter​ In Queens

QUEENS, NY — The city opened the first ever full-service animal shelter in Queens, which is part of efforts to open full-service animal care facilities in every borough.

The Queens Animal Care Center is named after the late Paul A. Vallone who served as deputy commissioner for external affairs at the New York City Department of Veterans Services and was a former councilman.

Vallone died from a heart attack in January.

Mayor Eric Adams praised Vallone, calling him a "committed advocate for veterans, serving those who have served our country, and fought to protect those most in need, including animals."

"The Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center will forever cement his legacy to public service, creating a space for Queens residents to find support and resources to help them keep their pets, and to learn more about helping animals in need," Adams added.

The facility located at 1906 Flushing Avenue in Ridgewood will offer pet adoptions, surrender prevention resources, lost & found assistance, and community-centered pet initiatives, official said.

The 50,000 square-foot facility will feature a kitten nursery, outdoor dog play yards, open roam cat rooms, an education center, a wellness wing for sick animals as well as private counseling rooms for owners needing assistance with their pets.

The building has space for approximately 300 animals and includes a retractable roof that lets in fresh air, as well as other enhancements for the well-being of the animals.

The City’s animal shelters are overseen by the Health Department and operated by Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), an independent nonprofit contracted by the city.

“We are so proud of Paul and everything he accomplished,” said Anna-Marie Vallone, wife of the late Paul Vallone. “He will continue to spread the gift of unconditional love to animals and families for generations to come. With heartfelt gratitude, our family has wanted a shelter in every borough for years and Paul was able to make this a reality. With lots of empathy, kindness, and compassion, Paul made this world a better place. Like my daughter, Lea said, ‘I cannot think of an animal that didn’t love him back.’”

The Department of Design and Construction is currently working on a new adoption center in Manhattan and a new Animal Care Center in the Bronx, in addition to undertaking a full renovation of the Care Center in Brooklyn.

For more information about Animal Care Centers of NYC and how you can get involved, visit www.nycacc.org.