An email exchange between an animal companion activist and high-ranking city official substantiates $4 million remained accessible in January 2023 to build a new Trenton Animal Shelter, disputing claims made by Mayor Reed Gusciora. The electronic correspondence occurred between Terry Peifer and Health & Human Services Acting Director Maria Richardson. Peifer inquired about American Rescue Plan funds with this email sent on Jan. 21, 2023. “Director Richardson, I am writing to you as you served on the Trenton ARP Advisory Committee.  It appears as if the City received $4,000,000 for the expansion of the animal shelter.  (page 7 on the document annexed hereto).  Our concern is that ARPA-21 provided a total of $72,913,998.00 in aid to the City of Trenton over two years, with $36,456,999 having been distributed during the 2021calendar year and $36,456,999.00 to be distributed during the 2022 calendar year. “Since we are now in 2023 and there has been no work expanding or building a new animal shelter, the question is has that $4,000,000 been lost?  If not, do you know if it is in danger of being pulled back by the federal government? I would greatly appreciate an update on this $4,000,000. Richardson replied two days later. “The City have not lost the $4,000,000 recommended to be used for the expansion of the Animal Shelter and we are not in danger of the fundings to be pulled back by the federal government. “As you might be aware, I have been the acting director of the Health and Human Services department for 3 weeks now. In that time, we have been able to identify a potential location for a new animal shelter, and have engaged with an architectural firm to work on conceptual plans for such location. “At  (a) certain point we will engage with animal advocates to be part of the process.  We will have to advertise an RFP for architectural services for the actual design and construction documents, and later on a bid for construction.” Gusciora has blamed a previous City Council for derailing his animal shelter plans. “When I became Mayor, I recognized the Shelter’s severe shortcomings and set out to address them. In September 2021, I proposed using $4 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to rebuild the shelter and create a more humane environment for the animals. Unfortunately, this proposal was met with opposition from the previous City Council, and we were unable to secure the necessary funding. Had the investment been approved, we could have begun the critical work of creating a shelter that meets the demands of today’s animal population,” a Gusciora Op-ed claimed.