Sliwa proposes to give $ 1,000 to people who adopt a pet from a municipal shelter

He wants to throw them a bone.

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa proposes that the city cover $ 1,000 in pet expenses for anyone who rescues a dog or cat from euthanasia at a city shelter.

The animal lover candidate – who lives in a studio with 15 rescued cats – cited a Post article on Saturday that revealed that New York animal care centers had dropped off 1,393 pets in June, more than double the February figure of 631.

Many discarded pets came from people who had them for comfort during COVID-19, now wanting to get rid of them.

Sliwa offers to give people who adopt pets a $ 1,000 “Snap Card” that they can use for food, supplies and related expenses at local stores.

The move would cost around $ 3.2 million per year, Sliwa told the Post.

“This SNAP Pet Card will help promote and facilitate adoptions throughout New York City by reducing the financial expense of pets,” the founder of the Guardian Angels said in a statement.

“It works the same as the traditional SNAP program, except it can only be used for pet-related expenses; food, supplies, veterinary care, etc.

“This direct interface with the animal shelter will also make it easier for every animal entering and leaving the shelter to be sterilized and vaccinated,” he added.

“This will prevent thousands of animals from being euthanized,” Sliwa predicted.

Funding for the “Pet Snap Card” would come from the $ 23 million budget for animal care and control, Sliwa said.

In November, Sliwa will face Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams, the current Brooklyn Borough president who is the clear favorite to win the general election.