PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Erica Kubersky, Representative of Positive Tails, on behalf of Justin Lamb, Veterinarian and Medical Director of Positive Tail Street Clinics
4:53:27
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101 sec
Erica Kubersky, representing Positive Tails, reads a letter from Justin Lamb, a veterinarian and medical director of Positive Tail Street Clinics. The testimony highlights the critical need for accessible veterinary care and spay/neuter services in New York City, emphasizing the significant demand and limited resources currently available.
- Positive Tails provided nearly $200,000 in free veterinary care in 2023 without public funding
- At least 75% of clinic attendees request spay/neuter services, but the organization can't meet all needs
- The testimony calls for increased city involvement and resources to support companion animal health and keep families together
Erica Kubersky (On Behalf of Justin Lamb)
4:53:27
Hi.
4:53:28
My name is Erica Cabarski.
4:53:29
I am also with positive tales, and I am reading a letter from one of our veterinarians that we work with.
4:53:36
My name is Justin Lamb.
4:53:37
I'm a veterinary a practice in Manhattan.
4:53:40
I am also the medical director of the Positive Tail Street Clinics, where we see hundreds of families.
4:53:46
And for many, we are their only access to care.
4:53:48
We provide the service free of cost.
4:53:52
And positive tails in 2023 has provided close to $200,000 of veterinary care without any public funding.
4:54:01
At our clinics, the need seems to be so great that we are forced to turn away 100 of family with the promise that we'll be back as soon as we can.
4:54:07
But it's never seen enough.
4:54:09
We've had the chance to catch emergencies where the animals certainly would have died if they did not attend a clinic.
4:54:13
And while I'm so relieved for these winds, I know we are not seeing all of them.
4:54:17
Of all the attendees, I would say, at least 75% are requesting Spay Nuder as a veterinarian.
4:54:22
I know the best thing medically we can do for these families is stay in here near their companion animals, but we simply can't do them all.
4:54:28
The dedication of our medical and nonmedical volunteers is inspiring.
4:54:32
But frankly, it shouldn't be our burden alone nor should it be the burden of the other nonprofits.
4:54:36
We've been so lucky.
4:54:37
Sitting here who we've been so lucky to collaborate with.
4:54:40
We're always going to be limited by the budget of our nonprofit and the number of facilities that we can work with, but just to be clear, we have no plans of walking away from this work.
4:54:48
We just need the city as a partner.
4:54:50
Over 50% of all households in New York City have companion animals, so this is not something that affects some.
4:54:54
It affects many.
4:54:55
I believe strongly that the city should be providing more resources to their residents because I think our common goal is to keep companion animals healthy.
4:55:04
Prevent them from entering our overburden shelter and to always keep families together.