PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Deserie Matos, President of Keep Me Warm Dog Houses Inc., on Animal Welfare and Spay/Neuter Services
5:44:10
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134 sec
Deserie Matos, President of Keep Me Warm Dog Houses Inc., testified about the need for free or low-cost spay/neuter services to address pet overpopulation and shelter overcrowding in New York City. She emphasized the importance of accessible veterinary care to improve animal welfare and reduce euthanasia rates in shelters.
- Matos' organization provides free insulated dog houses and other resources for outdoor dogs
- She shared an example of the high cost ($500 per dog) for spaying two pit bulls, highlighting the need for more affordable options
- Matos stressed the connection between uncontrolled breeding and shelter overcrowding, urging for easily accessible free or low-cost spay/neuter services
Deserie Matos
5:44:10
Good afternoon, council members.
5:44:11
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.
5:44:13
My name is Desiree Matos, and I'm in the president of Keep Me Warm Dog Houses Inc.
5:44:18
We provide free wooden insulated dog houses for dogs living in their owners' backyard without shelter or who have inadequate shelter.
5:44:27
These dogs are not allowed to live indoors with their families and are often used as guard dogs.
5:44:32
We also offer free spayometer, which we had to introduce that a couple of years ago because of the demand and the need.
5:44:41
Collars, threes, toys, bedding, and whatever is needed to improve the quality of lives for these dogs.
5:44:47
I'm sure we all agree that we have a serious problem with overcrowding in our city shelters with many animals being euthanized simply because there isn't enough space at the shelters.
5:44:59
Perfectly adaptable, beautiful animals being put down, put to sleep, killed.
5:45:07
I strongly believe that we could greatly reduce the number of dogs, cats, and other animals in the shelter if free or low cost bay nootter were available.
5:45:17
It is the only humane way to control the pep population.
5:45:22
I am currently working on getting 2 pit bull spades.
5:45:25
They are in a house with 3 intact males and have had few several litters already, and they are only two years old.
5:45:32
The owner was breeding them and had decided after much discussion with him to have them fixed.
5:45:39
I found a low cost vet to do the procedures at a cost of $500 each I don't consider $1000 for 2 dogs to be low cost.
5:45:48
Nevertheless, it has to be done along with the 3 other dogs that need to be fixed.
5:45:53
I worry about the puppies that were born to these mothers who were sold, and, of course, were not spared or neutered.
5:45:59
And the many litters that will be born from them.
5:46:02
It is highly likely that some of these dogs will will be surrendered to the shelters, and some of them might not make it out alive.
5:46:10
This doesn't have to be their fate.
5:46:12
We can address these serious issues, and we could start by offering easily accessible free low cost bay, neuter, and affordable veterinary care.
5:46:21
Thank you.
5:46:23
Thank you.