PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Courtney Chandel, Cofounder of Little Wanderers NYC
4:21:06
·
169 sec
Courtney Chandel, cofounder of Little Wanderers NYC, testified about the urgent need for affordable spay/neuter and veterinary services in New York City. She emphasized that animal welfare is also a human quality of life issue that affects all demographics, especially in underserved communities.
- Highlighted the crisis in animal rescue, with only 5% of rescued cats being spayed or neutered in her 15 years of experience in the Bronx
- Stressed the physical, emotional, and financial toll on rescuers, mentioning veterinary care costs of up to $30,000 per month
- Called for immediate action on affordable spay/neuter services, stating "The time for talk is over"
Courtney Chandel
4:21:06
I'm the co founder of Little Wanders, the 501c3 Nonprofit Animal Rescue Group, who takes calls from the public for rescue sick and injured homeless cats, as well as Faye Nuder.
4:21:17
And thank you for having all of us here today.
4:21:19
If anyone is still under the impression that our efforts are putting animals before people, they're not.
4:21:26
This is equally a human quality of life issue.
4:21:29
I'm a person.
4:21:31
All of us here are people.
4:21:33
The lack of space and new to resources in New York City has great impact on the lives of every citizen and volunteer rescuer in the city who cares about animals, which are millions.
4:21:43
Go into the neighborhoods.
4:21:45
This issue crosses every demographic, class, age, gender, race, religion, even political backgrounds, and I could go on.
4:21:55
Again, it's a human quality of life issue.
4:21:58
And of course, this has especially the greatest impact in underserved communities.
4:22:03
If there's enough money for art installations and flowers in the park, there's enough money for animal concerns.
4:22:11
This is about priorities.
4:22:14
I've been rescuing cats in the Bronx streets, in the poorest congressional district in the country for the past 15 years, which is hundreds of cats a year, and our vet records show that no more than 5% of the animals we pick up are spayed or neutered.
4:22:31
These well, many of these cats are abandoned family cats and come look at our vet records if you like.
4:22:40
To answer calls for help from the public, I have to go into abandoned buildings, alleyways, parking lots, junkyards at all seasons and weather, all times of the day and night to pull out cats.
4:22:52
This should not have to happen, but I ask you, who else is gonna do it?
4:22:57
We are in a crisis.
4:22:59
We need affordable space newter veterinary services in the city, not later, not down the road, but we need it now.
4:23:09
The time for talk is over.
4:23:13
The physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, financials, sometimes we have to raise money for $30,000 a month on veterinary care.
4:23:22
Toll is immense.
4:23:23
We're people, and we vote.
4:23:28
About the horses.
4:23:30
There was an initiative brought up a long time ago for antique cars.
4:23:33
What happened to that?
4:23:35
Jobs are still there.
4:23:36
It's not about jobs.
4:23:38
It's about something else.
4:23:39
I'd love to know what it is.
Lynn C. Schulman
4:23:40
Can you can you sum up your Yes.
4:23:42
At the time.
4:23:42
Thank you.
Courtney Chandel
4:23:44
And about the abuse, we're asked for we're asked for have abuse on video, all kinds of proof.
4:23:51
We know that's not gonna happen ever.
4:23:53
It has to be done in a different way.
4:23:55
Thank you.