Cat-ography: A Map of Adoption Sites Unveiled

On Friday morning a pack of elected officials was joined on the steps of City Hall by representatives from animal welfare organizations from all over the five boroughs—as well as several furry four-legged friends—to celebrate the unveiling of Trails to Tails, a comprehensive map marking all locations where New Yorkers can adopt homeless animals in addition to identifying dog parks and other useful resources for pet owners. Assemblyman Joe Lentol, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, Assemblyman Micah Kellner and Senator Eric Adams were among the animal-loving electeds in attendance.

Trails to Tails is a full-color, fold-out map of New York City’s five boroughs pinpointing where people can adopt animals, play with their pets in dog parks and locate useful resources for animal owners and pet lovers. Trails to Tails is the brainchild of Rational Animal, the NYC-based, non-profit organization that produces media to increase awareness for at-risk animals including TV spots, concerts and humane education events. The project is sponsored by the ASPCA and The Pedigree Foundation with help from New York Tails Magazine.

“While I am proud to be here today to help educate New Yorkers about the resources available to them and especially about the Tails to Trails Guide, mostly I am humbled to be here. I am humbled to stand next to those who get up every day and work in the trenches at the ASPCA, at Rational Animal, at The Pedigree Foundation, at BARC in Williamsburg, where I adopted my own cat and dog, and all of the other essential animal welfare organization across our city,” Lentol said. “By working to ensure the humane treatment of animals and to find homes for cats and dogs all across our city they provide an invaluable service and are heroes to us and to our pets. This isn’t just a map, it’s a trail to someone’s heart.”

Lentol should know—“the love of his life” McDonald, a mutt he adopted many years ago—came from BARC, an animal shelter in Williamsburg.

This 5th edition of Trails to Tails was produced by world-renowned 3-D pop artist Charles Fazzino and is based on his “New York Is” collectable illustration of New York City. The large 3-D pop-up map will be available via online auction to help raise funds for Rational Animal’s campaigns.

“With thousands of healthy homeless animals still being euthanized in city shelters due to lack of adopters and space, Trails to Tails helps people find and adopt more of these wonderful animals who await their forever homes,” said Susan Brandt, founder of Rational Animal. “With these maps, we engage more people to do their part to reach the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals goal of ending euthanasia in city shelters by 2015.”

The map will also be posted in all New York City elected officials’ offices, at public libraries and YMCAs across the five boroughs.

“You are starting an unbelievable journey when you adopt an animal,” Adams said. “And at these locations, fairy tales can come true.”

“There are many, many animal lovers in this city; sometimes I think some of the people in Albany should be replaced with animals—they are kinder and gentler,” said Rosenthal, half-kidding. “This guide will promote the adoption of animals and offer owners the resources to give their pets healthy, happy lives. As someone who adopted my cat through my local ASPCA, I am excited that this information will be available in beautiful, illustrated detail.”

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