PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ashley Carter, Independent Animal Rescuer from the Bronx
4:33:06
·
129 sec
Ashley Carter, an independent animal rescuer from the Bronx, testifies about the challenges faced in addressing cat overpopulation and animal welfare in New York City. She highlights the lack of resources, financial burden on rescuers, and the urgent need for city support in providing affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter services.
- Carter has spent over $8000 and hundreds of hours rescuing cats since 2019
- She describes harsh realities faced by animals in the Bronx, including freezing deaths, starvation, and poisoning
- Carter emphasizes that animal welfare is the city's responsibility and calls for high-volume, low-cost or free veterinary care to address the crisis
Ashley Carter
4:33:06
Good afternoon.
4:33:07
Thank you for allowing us to speak on this topic.
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My name is Ashley Carter.
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I've been an independent rescuer in the Bronx since 2019.
4:33:14
My first rescue was 2 injured kittens I picked up from a busy intersection.
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Having no resources and no plan, I reached out to several city animal agencies for assistance.
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None could help.
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It wasn't until I drove an hour north out of the city that I found assistance securing medical care and living homes for the cats.
4:33:31
I poured hundreds of hours and over $8000 into tackling cat overpopulation.
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In rain and snow at 2 PM 2 AM, I am on the streets rescuing the city's most vulnerable residents.
4:33:43
I trap, medicate, socialize, transport, foster, feet, and recover.
4:33:47
I have no choice but to do it all.
4:33:50
Here are just some harsh realities of what I've witnessed these animals endure in the Bronx.
4:33:54
Blistering cold, newborn kittens found frozen to death, devastating injuries, death by starvation, overwhelmed citizens attempting population control by poisoning cats, individuals keeping breeder cats and selling off their babies for $20 a pop.
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Reliance on private betting pushing rescuers into financial turmoil, an increase in abandoned friendly cats, and over and an overall increase in birth rates all while the ability availability of Spain newter appointments and space and adoption saltors continues to decrease.
4:34:25
And this is not just an animal issue.
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Rescuers rely on good hearted New Yorkers to provide food and shelter to strays.
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I myself am currently holding nine cats in a six hundred square foot apartment.
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Members of the public come to me desperate for help.
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They can't get appointments, and they can't afford to feed their pets and their colonies.
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Despite my desire to help, I've had to start turning people away.
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As someone currently out of work, I cannot continue to exhaust my resources solving a municipal issue, but I'm willing to continue doing so because I know that it's the right thing to do and I know Spay Neuter works.
4:34:58
The welfare of these animals is the city's responsibility.
4:35:01
Volunteers shouldn't carry this burden alone simply because we did the right thing and show these animals compassion.
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Without counsel support for high volume, low cost, or free vet care, this crisis will only worsen.
4:35:13
Please help us help this city.
4:35:14
Thank you.