PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Marie Mundaca, Volunteer at KittyKind
4:14:45
·
107 sec
Marie Mundaca, a volunteer with KittyKind, testifies about the challenges faced by cat rescue organizations in New York City, particularly regarding spay/neuter services and rising veterinary costs. She emphasizes the need for increased funding for low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary care services for rescuers and low-income New Yorkers.
- KittyKind lost access to discounted spay/neuter appointments with ASPCA during the pandemic, significantly increasing their monthly costs
- The organization has had to reduce the number of un-neutered kittens they can take from rescuers and cut back on other medical services for cats
- Mundaca reports an increase in owner surrenders due to rising veterinary costs and decreased access to low-cost care
Marie Mundaca
4:14:45
Hi.
4:14:45
My name is Marie Mendocca.
4:14:46
I'm a volunteer with Kittykind, an all volunteer cat adoption group that works with cat rescuers, colony caretakers, the general public to help get friendly cats adopted.
4:14:58
We are also one of the only privately run cat groups that takes cats and kittens directly from the public as opposed to sending cats through the animal care center.
4:15:08
Prior to the pandemic, Katie Kein had standing appointments with the ASPCA for multiple Spain neutered per month at a discounted rate.
4:15:17
This took pressure off rescuers to provide pediatric Spain neutered for adaptable kittens and freed up money for feral cat populations.
4:15:26
During the pandemic, we were informed that we would no longer have our monthly appointment.
4:15:32
Now there are hundreds of rescuers and groups competing for a small number of spots each month.
4:15:38
The appointments are released at 6 AM on a specific day and taken very quickly.
4:15:42
We are now using private bets for spray and neuter, raising our monthly cost from 5000 to 85100 a month.
4:15:51
Funds that were previously used to get teeth cleanings or advanced medical diagnostics for cats that came to us with medical issues are now being used for spray and neuter.
4:16:00
We can no longer pay for that visit for as many cats.
4:16:04
And we cut back on the number of un neutered kittens that we can take from rescuers.
4:16:09
Additionally, we are seeing more owner surrenders as the price of vet care in New York increases and access to low cost vet care decreases.
4:16:19
Our ability to help people rehome their pets has greatly decreased.
4:16:23
We hope that New York City can find money to fund low cost of Spain, neuter, and vet care for rescuers and for low income New Yorkers.
4:16:31
Thank you.
