PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Emily Olive Pate, Animal Welfare Advocate from Harlem Animal Rescue and New York City Animal Rescue Girls
5:14:34
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126 sec
Emily Olive Pate, an animal welfare advocate working with two rescue groups, testified about the challenges of animal rescue in New York City, particularly focusing on the issues of feral cat colonies and the need for affordable veterinary care. She emphasized the emotional toll of animal rescue work and the financial sacrifices made by rescuers.
- Highlighted the urgent need for increased funding for spay and neuter services to reduce the population of reproductive cats and dogs
- Called for a streamlined source of information on accessing affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter services
- Emphasized the impact of feral cats on the city's ornithological population and the importance of addressing this issue
Emily Olive Pate
5:14:34
Good afternoon, counsel.
5:14:36
My name is Emily Olive Pate.
5:14:38
I work with 2 Rescue Groups, Harlem Animal Rescue, and New York City Animal Rescue Girls.
5:14:44
I live in Ridgewood in Queens, and I work in Harlem where there is a an enormous cat colony.
5:14:52
It's a neighborhood overrun with feral stray and dumped cats This summer alone, I facilitated the trapping, fostering, adoption, and veterinary treatment of multiple cats, several kittens, 1 abandoned blind pitbull.
5:15:07
Seeking affordable medical care for these animals almost always involves drastic financial sacrifice from me and from those with whom I work closely, and who love these abused and abandoned animals as much as I do.
5:15:23
I have witnessed death and sickness firsthand.
5:15:27
I've witnessed mother cats yowling for their deceased babies.
5:15:32
I've witnessed dogs wagging their tails for a human who left and never came back.
5:15:39
When the time comes to seek veterinary intervention for those who survive, I often must choose between their well-being and mine.
5:15:48
Additionally, feral cats increased street presence harms the ornithological population of a city with limited green space.
5:15:56
And as of now, there are 2 primary gaps in our animal welfare system.
5:16:00
The first is the posity of funding for space and neuter services.
5:16:05
Such intervention is integral.
5:16:07
As has been covered today, over and over again to reducing the number of reproductive cats and dogs who are starving and struggling before our eyes.
5:16:17
And secondly, we need a streamlined source with information about where to find and how to access such services.
5:16:25
These are domestic animals in whose company we as New Yorkers and as human beings revel and thrive.
5:16:30
We love them and they love us in return.
5:16:32
In order to build a healthier city for them and for us, we need to make it easier to access affordable veterinary care and stay in Neuter.