PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by India Mazzaro, Representative of Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition
6:25:59
·
133 sec
India Mazzaro, representing Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition, highlights the challenges faced by individual rescuers and small rescue groups in addressing the cat crisis in New York City. She emphasizes the need for immediate city support and enforcement of existing laws to alleviate the burden on rescuers.
- Calls for enforcement of animal abandonment laws and proper handling of pets by NYCHA employees
- Advocates for stricter regulation of unlicensed breeders and outdoor cats
- Proposes using fines and fees to fund animal overpopulation efforts and increasing humane education in schools
India Mazzaro
6:25:59
Okay.
6:26:00
Sorry.
6:26:00
I've never used one of these before.
6:26:02
My name is India Mazaro, and I present Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition.
6:26:07
We operate the Brooklyn Cafe And BBAWC Rescue Clinic.
6:26:12
BBAWC would now like to highlight the individuals and small group rescuers who have stepped up to fill the gaps left by the inadequate shelter system and lack of accessible vet care while the city and its agencies are shielded from the harsh reality of the New York City cat crisis.
6:26:28
A sadly common story, a family facing eviction is forced to leave their pet cat behind after being turned away from a full shelter.
6:26:35
Nitra employees then put the cat outside with no shelter or food where it ends up either critically ill or injured due to a lack of survival skills outside.
6:26:44
Most rescuers get calls about situations like this multiple times a week, and knowing the cats have no other options, take on the costs and effort required to get the cats fixed and adopted.
6:26:55
This is draining mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially yet rescuers feel unable to stop or even take a break because they know that no one else will help these cats.
6:27:05
Until long term, humane policies and programs are established, that the city can lend immediate support to rescuers by enforcing existing laws and policies.
6:27:13
Ag and markets law 355 prohibits abandoning an animal and Nitro policy states unknown animals are to be taken to shelters.
6:27:21
We need to empower Nitro employees to bring pets to the city shelter rather than leaving them un sterilized on premises.
6:27:28
We need to help residents comply with Nitro policies requiring animals to be spayed and neutered So if a cat does end up outside, it cannot reproduce freely.
6:27:37
Shut down parties operating as unlicensed breeders such as Bodegas, private breeders, and people looking to make money selling kittens on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
6:27:48
We need to find pet owners who let their intact unvaccinated cats outside, and we need to leverage dog licensing fees and other fines to fund the animal overpopulation fund.
6:27:58
And finally, we need to increase or provide humane education in schools to encourage children to learn about adopting an animal care.
6:28:06
Every day of inaction is another day that homeless cats suffer and another day that you're failing your constituents and the community.