PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Helene Hartman-Kutnowsky, Board Member of Bronx Community Board 7, on Animal Rescue and Education
6:52:47
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153 sec
Helene Hartman-Kutnowsky, a Bronx Community Board 7 member, shared her experiences with rescuing cats and emphasized the need for better education on proper animal care and surrender procedures in New York City. She highlighted the importance of knowing where to take unwanted animals and suggested implementing citywide measures to inform residents about animal welfare responsibilities.
- Rescued three cats from her building and feeds two feral cats
- Shared stories of recent cat rescues, emphasizing the lack of knowledge about proper animal surrender
- Proposed adding information about animal care responsibilities to lease agreements or as citywide educational initiatives
Helene Hartman-Kutnowsky
6:52:47
Hi.
6:52:48
I guess it's good evening at this point.
6:52:50
My name is Helene Hartman Kudnowski.
6:52:53
I live in the Bronx I'm a member of Community Board 7.
6:52:57
I'm on the Environmental Committee.
6:53:02
I have three cats that are all rescues from my building that my neighbors have put out.
6:53:07
And I also feed 2 feral cats.
6:53:09
I don't do what most of the people here do.
6:53:13
I'm in awe of all of them.
6:53:17
I just want to say though that I think the education component really needs to be stressed.
6:53:23
Last month, I did rescue 2 cats.
6:53:25
1 was a little kitten that my neighbor was carrying out.
6:53:29
She was taking it to the Bodega.
6:53:33
Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of people think that's an appropriate place to take an animal.
6:53:38
And fortunately, Iris Lugo, who's a cat rescuer, she takes care of kittens in our community.
6:53:46
She's marvelous.
6:53:48
I was able to call her, and she did take the little red head.
6:53:52
And so that was a happy story, but I don't know whether it's education.
6:53:56
I think it might be partly lack of knowledge as to where to take animals.
6:54:01
Because she she said if the Bodega doesn't want the animal, she was gonna put it on marshmallow Parkway.
6:54:07
So we were pretty horrified.
6:54:09
And the same month, I my neighbor called me because She found an animal in our courtyard.
6:54:16
It looked like a dried mop.
6:54:17
I don't think I would have even recognized it as an animal.
6:54:21
Fortunately, again, Bronx tales, I called Betty Arce, Jamie Lehman took the cat and it looks like a whole different animal now.
6:54:32
Alright?
6:54:32
But again, I'm fortunate that I I know who to call and they were able to help.
6:54:40
I think what we need to do is again, this is what I'm thinking with my landlord, but I think we need to maybe consider it for leases in New York City.
6:54:49
We need some kind of writer that basically outlines that you cannot put animals out.
6:54:55
You these are the places to go.
6:54:57
This is where you gotta get help.
6:54:58
Whether it's a rider, I don't think you're gonna put it on leases, but it needs to be done in a city wide way because it's it's really a pandemic and We know what Gandhi says about, how a society is treated, how we treat our animals, I'm not quoting, is really what we're about, and we need to do better.
6:55:19
Thank you.
Lynn C. Schulman
6:55:20
Thank you.