PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jannatul Ahmed, Director of Operations at Long Island City Feral Feeders
3:44:35
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123 sec
Jannatul Ahmed, Director of Operations at Long Island City Feral Feeders, testified about the urgent need for increased resources to address the cat overpopulation crisis in New York City. She emphasized the overwhelming demand for low-cost spay/neuter services and veterinary care, highlighting the challenges faced by rescue organizations and cat caretakers.
- Ahmed discovered the extent of the cat overpopulation problem through her involvement in a city council campaign in 2020.
- Long Island City Feral Feeders, a 501c3 nonprofit, is struggling to meet the increasing demand for cat rescue and management.
- She urged council members to fund high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter services for all New Yorkers, including community cats and owned pets.
Jannatul Ahmed
3:44:35
Good afternoon.
3:44:37
My name is Janet Houl Ahmed, and I am the director of operations at Long Island City, Farrell Peters.
3:44:43
You all just heard from my amazing rest president Victoria here.
3:44:46
And like she said, we are a 501c3 nonprofit cat rescue based in district 26 where I am also a resident.
3:44:54
In 2020, I campaigned for a district 22 city council candidate, and it was through that experience that fellow campaign member introduced me to the cat overpopulation crisis in our city.
3:45:06
When I saw the volume of cats outdoors that were living in poor conditions, sick or simply so friendly that they were begging to be brought indoors, It blew my mind that I had spent 20 plus years of my life without knowing that there were so many cats out there in need of dire assistance.
3:45:21
I assure you that there are many out there like me who still need the knowledge delivered to them.
3:45:26
And the more I learned, the more involved I got in cat rescue management.
3:45:30
Our small but mighty team at LIC Ferrell feeders has been operating at a volume unlike ever before.
3:45:36
Volunteering our free time to help the cats and cat caretakers of our community.
3:45:40
We are beyond overwhelmed.
3:45:42
There are not enough resources for us to make an effective and long lasting change, especially after the population surge that multiple veterinary clinic closures during the pandemic have led to.
3:45:53
The current supply of subsidized veterinary services is nowhere near the demand that is out there.
3:45:59
Council members, I urge you to fund high volume, no to low cost bay annuter services for all New Yorkers.
3:46:05
Our community cats owned pets, and we, your hardworking constituents, need greater access to veterinary services both in cost and in quantity.
3:46:14
Consituents should not have to take time off of work to attend appointments, consider surrendering a beloved pet due to the rising cost of care or compete against each other for the limited services available.
3:46:27
The number of cats on New York City streets is not normal, and our city needs to solve this problem before it spirals further out of control.
3:46:34
Ultimately, practicing altruism in the city should not come at a cost.
3:46:38
Thank you.