PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Deborah Thomas, Volunteer at Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC)
7:13:02
·
5 min
Deborah Thomas, a volunteer at Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), provided critical testimony on the state of animal welfare in New York City. She highlighted the lack of proper oversight, insufficient resources, and questionable practices at ACC, calling for significant improvements in the management and operation of animal services in the city.
- Criticized the lack of a formal city committee for animal welfare and the ineffectiveness of the existing animal welfare agency
- Pointed out the absence of marketing efforts by ACC, leading to low public awareness and adoption rates
- Raised concerns about the conditions in ACC shelters, including cleanliness issues and inappropriate use of medications
- Called for the implementation of proper business protocols and the establishment of a civilian review board to improve animal welfare services
Deborah Thomas
7:13:02
We have formal city committees chaired by council members for everything, though, nothing for animals other than What I feel is a nonoperative animal welfare agency consisting of one person, not a council member who doesn't reply to public inquiries.
7:13:20
The animal arena isn't just a business.
7:13:22
It's in fact an enormous business.
7:13:24
Yet the field isn't being dealt with responsibly, and it's treated as an appendage.
7:13:30
Oh, they're just animals.
7:13:32
It's time, proper effective business protocol be put into place.
7:13:38
Along with the civilian review board with the proper independent people so this field can finally be done in the right way successfully and responsibly to the animals.
7:13:47
There's a way, and then there's the right way.
7:13:50
All people of wisdom know as with any cause.
7:13:53
It's always the advocate who live and breathe the cause every day, who really know what's going on.
7:13:58
People in general love animals.
7:14:00
If the public knew what the advocates know, the roar would become utterly definite.
7:14:05
If you're brave enough to follow the to be destroyed list of ACC, but I warn I warn you, it'll sear your soul because you're watching animals, you're reading everything, and all of a sudden they're killed.
7:14:19
And it starts affecting you.
7:14:22
ACC basic business protocol 101, none in place.
7:14:27
Dyer protocols for nearly every business or customer service follow through consistency.
7:14:31
And for ACC Marketing.
7:14:35
There's not one line item allotted for marketing.
7:14:38
Nothing.
7:14:39
Their only marketing is done if it's for free.
7:14:41
The majority of New Yorkers don't even know they exist.
7:14:45
So no marketing equals no public awareness equals little to no adoptions.
7:14:51
Look at ASPCA marketing, everyone knows them.
7:14:54
As they sit with a half a $1,000,000 in their reserve fund growing annually, yet ACC does none.
7:15:00
And 2, as with any successful business.
7:15:03
You put the proper brilliant ethical professionals, in this case, business, admin, marketing, and animal professionals, and HCC, in the proper positions with the proper plans implemented and the proper motivational mindset behind it, honorable to the entities of this business, which in this case are these helpless, homeless animals.
7:15:25
In
Lynn C. Schulman
7:15:26
January Can you can you sum up Oh, boy.
Deborah Thomas
7:15:31
I don't know.
7:15:32
I've got a lot.
Lynn C. Schulman
7:15:33
Yeah.
7:15:33
And you've got to Well, you can submit it.
7:15:36
I I will.
Deborah Thomas
7:15:37
I will.
7:15:38
In truth, I wish I never tripped into this arena because it's changed me, because I follow the kill list.
7:15:44
It's changed me not in a good way.
7:15:46
I walk around most of the time with such sadness in my heart, in my mind on the ground, while oddly enough it's overseen and protected by the wall of steel of the Department of Human Health And Mental Hygiene.
7:15:58
It's quite the dichotomy and rather ironic because DOH is creating human mental depression and anxiety for all those who know what's happening behind those closed doors.
7:16:09
Manhattan ACC is crawling with bugs.
7:16:11
I have videos.
7:16:13
The cages and kennels already in queens are filthy.
7:16:15
It it none of this makes sense.
7:16:19
And and the new queen sheltered, no access to public trans where is the logic?
7:16:24
I'm big on business logic, and it's just not happening.
7:16:30
And oddly enough, with no fair bidding process, they were simply granted a 34 year $1,400,000,000 contract after receiving scathing city audits, having filthy diseased shelters, crawling with bugs, mega draw drugging.
7:16:46
Now these drugs are very dangerous, and these drugs you need to be cleaned
Risa Weinstock
7:16:50
up today.
Lynn C. Schulman
7:16:50
I really we have 15 people waiting to testify online, so could please wrap it up.
Mike Phillips
7:16:56
Alright.
Lynn C. Schulman
7:16:59
Like I said, you can submit it and I will.
7:17:01
But I
Deborah Thomas
7:17:01
do wanna say this.
7:17:03
What they do is irresponsible and it's dangerous.
7:17:06
That animals need to be weaned off the drugs, but they don't give the medication to the adopters' foresters rescue so it can be done responsibly.
7:17:14
It goes against the manufacturer's recommendation.
7:17:17
It's incredibly dangerous and irresponsible.
7:17:20
They miss contract deadlines.
7:17:22
I can go on and on, and I'll put it all in a
Lynn C. Schulman
7:17:24
You'll you'll you'll submit that.
Deborah Thomas
7:17:26
Just You
Lynn C. Schulman
7:17:26
wanna make a a last sentence?
7:17:28
You wanna give a last sentence?
7:17:30
Last.
7:17:30
Wrap it up.
Deborah Thomas
7:17:32
20 January 2024 board meeting, it was the first time they ever ended the video after the ACC presentation purposely cutting out the entire portion of the members of the public speaking because they didn't want the outside public and the politicians to hear what was said because it got heated.
7:17:49
And it's just more control of how more proof of how they are controlling and their continued lack of transparency.
Lynn C. Schulman
7:17:58
Thank you.
7:17:58
Thank you very much, and please make sure that you submit your entire I will.
7:18:02
Thank you.
Kathy Nizzari
7:18:04
I'll call your office also.
7:18:08
I'll call you to Joanne.
Ashley Carter
7:18:11
I won't.
7:18:13
Okay.
7:18:13
Next next
Deborah Thomas
7:18:14
panelist and detail oriented.
7:18:17
The last person Barreling the healthiest
UNKNOWN
7:18:21
voices for shelter animals.