NYC Animal Rescue Free directory · All five boroughs

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If the animal is bleeding, struggling to breathe, collapsed, or has been caught by a cat, it needs care now. 24-hour emergency vets.

Exotic pet emergencies

Rabbits, birds, reptiles and small mammals need an exotic-capable vet. Call ahead.

Exotic-vet & emergency care

Why a separate list: most general small-animal vets do NOT treat rabbits, birds, reptiles or other exotics. Exotic species hide illness and decline fast, so line up a rabbit/bird/'exotics-savvy' vet BEFORE you need one. Confirm each clinic still sees your species, and their current hours and emergency policy, by phone on the clinic's own line before relying on it.

Finding an exotics vet you can trust

  • Rabbit Rescue & Rehab keeps a rabbit-savvy vet-care page: rabbitrescueandrehab.org/vet-care.
  • Bunnies & Beyond keeps a NYC rabbit/guinea-pig vet list: bunniesandbeyond.org/vets.
  • NYTTS keeps a turtle/reptile Care & Veterinarians page: nytts.org (Care/Veterinarians).
  • The Association of Avian Veterinarians (aav.org) and the Association of Reptilian & Amphibian Veterinarians (arav.org) both have 'find a vet' tools for board-experienced exotic vets.

24/7 emergency + specialty (call ahead - confirm they take your species that night):

  • The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC), 510 East 62nd Street, Manhattan, NY 10065 - (212) 838-8100 - 24/7/365 ER with a dedicated Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine Service treating birds, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits and other small mammals (amcny.org/pet-owners/specialties/avian-exotic-pet-medicine). No appointment needed for emergency/urgent care; a new ER opened Dec 2025. One of the few NYC ERs with in-house, board-certified exotics specialists and CT/MRI/ultrasound/endoscopy on site. Also accepts injured raptors and waterfowl (per NYC Bird Alliance). AMC's exotic service (est. 1984) was NYC's first; treats birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, small rodents and reptiles.

Dedicated exotics day-practice (routine + sick visits, not 24/7):

  • The Center for Avian & Exotic Medicine, 562 Columbus Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10024 - (212) 501-8750 - open 7 days 9am-7pm. NYC's only exclusively avian & exotic veterinary hospital (a calm, dog/cat-free environment). Treats birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, small mammals, small ruminants, and wildlife-as-pets (e.g. squirrels, pigeons); offers TeleVet for established patients. The natural complement to AMC's ER for non-emergency exotic care. (On Columbus Ave, near the Wild Bird Fund.)
  • Long Island Bird & Exotics Vet Clinic (Nassau County) - the only avian & exotic hospital in Nassau; serves all of NYC (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island) plus Westchester/NJ/CT. Treats birds, reptiles, parrots, sugar gliders, rabbits, chinchillas and other small mammals; offers endoscopy, anesthesia, minimally invasive surgery, emergency services, MEDICAL BOARDING and grooming (birdexoticsvet.com). A strong exotics-only option for outer-borough/LI residents.
  • Vinegar Hill Veterinary Group, 57 Front St, Unit 101, Brooklyn (DUMBO) 11201 - (718) 797-6875 - Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm (2nd location in Brooklyn Heights); vhvetgroup.com. A full-service clinic with the equipment and expertise to treat exotic & avian species (incubators, oxygen therapy, nebulization) alongside cats/dogs; sees guinea pigs, turtles, hedgehogs and birds, and treats some WILDLIFE by appointment (Drs. Neumann & Adelman). The most convenient exotics-capable full-service option in Brooklyn.
  • BluePearl and other regional emergency hospitals list exotic capability unevenly - always phone first to confirm an exotics-capable clinician is on that shift.

Poison control (exotics are highly sensitive - lilies, avocado, teflon fumes, many houseplants can be fatal):

These lines cover exotic pets, not just cats and dogs. Have the species, weight, and the substance/amount ready.

Note on wildlife

  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435 - 24/7 (a consultation fee may apply). aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control.
  • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 - 24/7 (fee applies).
  • A wild animal is not a candidate for a pet-clinic visit - route it to a licensed wildlife rehabber or the Wild Bird Fund (646-306-2862). See the Wildlife rehabilitation tab.

This guide is compiled from the project's research files. Contact details inside it can go stale — check the directory for the current listing, and confirm a number is live before you rely on it.