PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Maggie Shnayerson, Independent Rescuer from Bay Ridge Kittens
7:07:49
·
132 sec
Maggie Shnayerson, an independent rescuer volunteering under the name Bay Ridge Kittens, shared her experiences and challenges in rescuing, vetting, and finding homes for homeless animals in Brooklyn. She highlighted the lack of city support for animal rescue efforts and the high personal costs involved.
- Emphasized the need for high-volume, high-quality, low or no-cost spay/neuter services and affordable veterinary care
- Revealed that she spent nearly $37,000 last year on her rescue efforts, relying on personal funds and donations
- Pointed out that even local officials have had to rely on individual volunteers like her for animal-related issues
Maggie Shnayerson
7:07:49
Good evening.
7:07:50
My name is Maggie Schnarson, and I volunteer as an independent rescuer under the name Bay Ridge kittens.
7:07:57
I have been rescuing, vetting, and finding adopters for homeless animals in Brooklyn since coming across a friendly injured cat dodging traffic on my way home from a late shift as an EMT in 2019.
7:08:10
In my district 47 neighborhood, I assist shop owners and those with limited income or mobility by bringing their pets to a handful of low cost spay neuter clinics throughout the city for basic vet care.
7:08:23
I do not own a vehicle.
7:08:25
I use rideshare services and cover those costs myself along with vet bills, equipment, food, medication, and so much more, like many of the rescuers you've heard from here.
7:08:38
I asked friends, neighbors, and those on social media to contribute when they can.
7:08:42
But last year alone, the cost of my little community service effort was nearly $37,000.
7:08:50
I also assist my many neighbors to discover cats and kittens living under their porches and windows.
7:08:56
Invariably, they are stunned to realize no city support exists to help them navigate that predicament.
7:09:03
On more than one occasion, my state senator and city council persons have found themselves in that scenario at their homes and their district offices.
7:09:14
The only solution available, even to them, was to request help from me, an individual volunteer donating her time while balancing a job and family obligations.
7:09:27
This is a solvable problem.
7:09:29
Should you choose to allocate funds to upstream solutions that we know work.
7:09:35
We need high volume, high quality, low or no costs, bay neuter services, and affordable vet care for any rescuer or pet owner who needs it.
7:09:45
As a native New Yorker who knows full well what my beloved city is capable of when we set our minds to something, I know this is something that we can get done.
7:09:55
Thank you to the community for this opportunity and to my fellow rescuers, for their unheralded dedication.