PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Matt Miller, Veterinarian at Muddy Paws Rescue
2:29:37
·
144 sec
Matt Miller, a veterinarian with Muddy Paws Rescue, testified about the challenges in animal welfare in New York City, focusing on overpopulation and access to veterinary care. He emphasized the need for solutions such as high-volume spay and neuter programs and reducing the influx of animals from breeders.
- Highlighted his experience in animal welfare and current role providing free veterinary care for rescue animals
- Expressed appreciation for ACC's work in reducing barriers to pet ownership
- Offered support and ideas for public-private partnerships and low-cost medical programs to improve animal welfare in the city
Matt Miller
2:29:37
Good afternoon.
2:29:38
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
2:29:40
I'm pleased to see so many people advocating for animals today.
2:29:44
My name is Matt Miller.
2:29:45
I'm a veterinarian who's been in this field for over half my life, the animal welfare field over half my life, and I've been practicing in New York City for the past 5 years.
2:29:53
Currently serving as the veterinarian for MoneyPause Rescue, a nonprofit canine rescue organization that has pulled over a hundred dogs from the UCC this year.
2:30:01
One of my roles at MoneyPause Rescue is to provide free dental care space, neutors, and other medical care for animals.
2:30:06
That in the care of NPR and partner organizations.
2:30:10
Since I was fifteen years old, I've been involved with animal shelters and rescue organizations, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of New York's animal welfare community.
2:30:17
After all, animal welfare in the US began right here with the ASPCA advocating against the miss treatment of horses in NYC in the 18 sixties.
2:30:25
Here, I'm able to work with compassionate people developing creative solutions to overpopulation, and I empathize with many of the issues raised today.
2:30:33
As an associate veterinarian, when I was in general practice, I had to turn away clients in their animals and mean do simply to the inability to pay, and it broke my heart every time.
2:30:43
Despite some of the criticisms I've heard today, I deeply appreciate the unimaginably difficult work ACC does to reduce barriers to pet ownership, So adopted animals can stay in homes rather than return to shelters.
2:30:54
And access to veterinary care is just one component to the fundamental problem here, which is overpopulation.
2:30:59
There are more animals than homes in New York City.
2:31:01
Stray animals, of course, pose a public health risk as multiple cats have tested positive for rabies in recent years, along with parasitic and fungal infections that threaten human health.
2:31:10
And so ultimately for the sake of public health and to reduce the suffering of animals, stray animals must either be adopted or euthanized.
2:31:17
And New Yorkers have shown up today to add vacate for solutions that make one of those outcomes easier than the other.
2:31:22
Whether through hunting, funding high volume spay and neuter programs or stemming the flow of animals from breeders, solutions exist.
2:31:29
Animal welfare organizations here in elsewhere have provided funding, for high volume Spay and Neuter operations in the form of grants, donations, and federal student loan forgiveness to recruit and retain veterinary staff.
2:31:40
I look forward to supporting this council as they seek to improve animal welfare and would welcome invitations to any task forces or programs that arise from this hearing.
2:31:49
I have ideas with respect to public private partnerships, the building out of low cost medical programs and maximizing the utility of funding toward the shared goals of everyone in this room.
2:31:58
Thank you for your time, and thank you to everyone who showed up today for animals.
UNKNOWN
2:32:01
Thank you.