New Queens animal shelter helps residents find new furry friend

RIDGEWOOD, Queens (PIX11) -- The Animal Care Centers of NYC opened the doors to its first Queens location on Tuesday.

The Paul A Vallone Queens Animal Care Center sits at 1906 Flushing Ave in Ridgewood. The opening comes as the animal shelter closed its Brooklyn location on Wednesday with plans to renovate and reopen in 2026.

In a TikTok video posted on Saturday, staff from both ACC and the ASPCA moved more than 200 animals from the Brooklyn shelter to the new Queens location. The breakdown included 77 dogs, 111 cats, 33 rabbits, and two guinea pigs.

ACC has been struggling with dog overcrowding since adoptions began to slow in 2022, resulting in the shelter’s hallways being lined with dog crates. In early July, the organization had about 350 dogs in its shelter when they only had room for about 185, a spokesperson told PIX11.

Pet fosters have helped with ACC’s move by taking 40 dogs into temporary homes, 12 of which kept their fosters and another three that are in the process of adopting. Many other animals from Brooklyn ACC were placed through the organization’s New Hope Program, a partnership with other 501c3’s to place prospective pets, especially those with special needs, into permanent homes.

Pets at the Queens location are already up for adoption through the ACC website.