PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Heidi Systo, Cat Rescuer and Social Media Influencer
2:44:58
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101 sec
Heidi Systo, a Brooklyn resident for 15 years, shares her experience as a cat rescuer who has turned her passion into a full-time job through social media influence. She highlights the urgent need for city-funded spay/neuter clinics to address the pet overpopulation crisis in New York City.
- Rescued over 1,000 cats in 11 years, garnering 2.4 million followers across social media platforms
- Spent over $100,000 on veterinary care for cats in 2023, fundraised through social media
- Emphasizes that relying on social media influencers is not a sustainable solution for what should be a city service
Heidi Systo
2:44:58
Hello.
2:44:59
My name is Heidi Sisto, and for the last 15 years, I've lived in bedside, Brooklyn.
2:45:03
It was approximately 11 years ago that I started helping the stray cats in my neighborhood in my free time after being confronted with cats in need every time I left my house.
2:45:11
Getting these homeless cats, veterinary care, spanned nootter, and adopted into homes, spending any extra time and money I had on them.
2:45:18
Like all cat rescuers, I had a day job that had nothing to do with cats and spread myself thin juggling both my job and helping cats.
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It was around this time 11 years ago that I also started posted posting on social media, documenting the cats I was helping in my neighborhood.
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Since then, I've rescued over a 1000 cats of which almost all were originally intact.
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In documenting this, I've garnered 2,400,000 followers across social media platforms, and as a result, I've been able to turn rescuing cats into my full time job.
2:45:45
I can say that I am one of the only New Yorkers who rescues cats as their day job.
2:45:50
In 2023, I rest I spent over a $100,000 on veterinary care for cats, which I was able to fundraise through my social media platforms.
2:45:58
But this is not a sustainable solution.
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No one should have to become Internet famous in order to provide what should be a city service.
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New York City shouldn't need social media influencers to solve this problem when there are thousands of New Yorkers who wanna step up, many of whom you'll hear from today.
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Everyday, New Yorkers wanna help the cats on their block, and get their pets fixed, but the resources just aren't available to do so.
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And as a result, the overpopulation crisis of pets gets worse every year.
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But we can solve this problem by having widespread access to city funded, Span Neuter.
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Clinics in every borough where pet owners and rescuers alike could bring pets to receive free in locusts, Spain, New Year.
2:46:33
We need your help.
2:46:34
We need New York City to step up and fund high volume affordable Spain, New Year.
2:46:38
Thank you so much for your time.
