City taps new animal rescue group to run shelter

The City Council voted unanimously last week to enter into a one-year contract with New York City-based animal rescue group Posh Pets Rescue, which will operate the Long Beach Animal Shelter following the abrupt exit of Rescue Ink last year.

At its April 16 meeting, the council approved a $95,000 contract with Posh Pets, which has been featured on NBC’s “New York Live” and is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of homeless animals, many of which are saved from imminent euthanasia at city shelters, according to the group’s website. The Long Beach shelter, at 770 Park Place, will be the first to be managed by Posh Pets, and will continue to operate as a “no kill” shelter.

“Posh Pets Rescue has demonstrated the ability to care for animals, promote adoption awareness and promote community engagement through education and adoption events,” City Manager Jack Schnirman said. “They have a history of more than 10 years of rescues. We’re looking forward to Posh Pets Rescue being active in our community, and we’re very excited that they’ve committed to making capital investments in the facility as well.”

In January, the city issued a request for proposals for a new organization to run the shelter. In February, City spokesman Gordon Tepper said that three proposals had been submitted and that the city was conducting interviews.

The Police Department and a group of volunteers had been operating the shelter since Rescue Ink left last June, Police Commissioner Michael Tangney said. The volunteers, he said, played a role in selecting a new operator for the facility.

“After two or three meetings, it was whittled down to the most competent, dedicated group,” Tangney said. “[Posh Pets] had tremendous fundraising based on their income tax return, and they’re committing to putting $100,000 into our shelter operations — they’re going to combine the veterinary services with the shelter operations so the city doesn’t need a veterinarian any more. … With the new contract … Posh Pets is taking care of everything … with the understanding of a preference for all Long Beach animals.”