PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Arina Hinzen, Founder of Urban Wildlife Alliance, on Challenges in Wildlife Rehabilitation and Need for Affordable Veterinary Care
7:49:35
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144 sec
Arina Hinzen, founder of Urban Wildlife Alliance, testified about the challenges faced by wildlife rehabilitators in New York City, particularly the lack of affordable veterinary care. She emphasized the critical need for support to continue their work in rescuing and rehabilitating urban wildlife.
- Urban Wildlife Alliance has been a New Hope partner with ACC since 2012, taking in hundreds of wild animals from city shelters
- The organization lost access to affordable veterinary care when their partnering animal hospital was sold to a corporate chain
- Current veterinary costs of $500-$800 per visit are unsustainable, forcing them to significantly reduce animal intake
- Hinzen called for help in accessing affordable veterinary care to continue their work and urged consideration for the needs of city wildlife
Arina Hinzen
7:49:35
Yes.
7:49:35
Hello, and thank you so much for hanging in there.
7:49:38
My name is Arena Henson, and I'm the founder of the Urban Wildlife Alliance, an all volunteer nonprofits dedicated to the welfare of New York City's Wildlife, which is too often forgotten and overlooked.
7:49:50
When we think of animals in New York City.
7:49:53
The hands on rehabilitation of sick and injured and orphaned wildlife plays a main role in our mission, and we have been a proud new hope partner with ACC since 2012.
7:50:04
Taking in hundreds of wild animals directly from city shelters.
7:50:09
In water rehabilitation, almost all animals we take in are suffering from health issues or injuries.
7:50:16
While we are trained to handle many of these issues ourselves, We still rely heavily on veterinary services for X rays, procedures requiring anesthesia, prescription medications, and sadly euthanasia when necessary.
7:50:33
Our work is a free service to the city and the public We receive no financial support, and we cover all expenses for personal funds and small donations.
7:50:43
We have always been stretched to our limits because they are not enough of us.
7:50:47
But at least until the pandemic, our organization was fortunate to have the support of a compassionate animal hospital that shared our vision and values.
7:50:57
Sadly, when the hospital was sold to a corporate chain, we lost all access to affordable veterinary care, which had a profound and devastating impact on our work.
7:51:07
Now without affordable services, if we can find a vet at all who would see our patients, we face veterinary bills of 500 to $800 per visit, and this is not including surgery which many of our animals need.
7:51:25
Those costs are too much for a small organization like us to shoulder.
7:51:31
We are exhausted physically, emotionally, and financially.
7:51:35
As a result, we have to significantly cut back on intake.
UNKNOWN
7:51:38
Thank you for your testimony, your time.
Lynn C. Schulman
7:51:40
Can you just summarize, please, for us Okay.
Arina Hinzen
7:51:42
That we have to cut back on all intakes that might require a vet care We need your help.
7:51:49
We need access to affordable veterinary care to continue our work, and we hope not that you won't forget about the needs of City One Life.
7:51:58
Thank you so much.