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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mia (Anamaria) Scuric, Representative of Astoria Cat Rescue
3:35:05
ยท
139 sec
Mia Scuric from Astoria Cat Rescue describes the daily challenges faced by her organization in rescuing and caring for cats in Astoria. She emphasizes the urgent need for increased city support, particularly in providing affordable spay/neuter services and emergency veterinary care.
- The rescue struggles with limited resources to care for 15 cat colonies and rescue cats daily
- High veterinary costs, even with rescue discounts, are straining the organization's finances
- The speaker calls for immediate city funding for high-volume free or low-cost spay/neuter services and affordable emergency vet care
Mia (Anamaria) Scuric
3:35:05
My name is Anna Magia Chaudetz, and I'm with Astoria Cataraskill.
3:35:09
Every single day no matter the weather, weather is pouring rain, freezing cold, or blistering heat.
3:35:15
We are out there feeding 15 colonies in Astoria and rescuing cats and kitties daily, providing shelter, food, and medical care, and we are struggling.
3:35:25
There are way too many cuts on the streets and not enough resources.
3:35:30
Getting free spare anduter services is nearly impossible.
3:35:33
Even with the regular vet care, the costs, even with our rescue discount, are far too high for a number of cats that we rescue every month.
3:35:43
And as you know, ACC and DOH are no help.
3:35:46
And it's not just the spare and uterine services.
3:35:49
Many of the cats we rescue need emergency medical care.
3:35:53
Surgery, CT scans, blood transfusions, and there's nowhere affordable to take them.
3:35:59
We've walked into emergency hospitals like AMC and Blue Pearl with dying cats, knowing that the vet bill will be in thousands, even tens of thousands.
3:36:08
But we don't have a choice.
3:36:10
These animals need our help, and we're the only ones trying to give it to them.
3:36:14
And because of it, we are broke.
3:36:17
Donations don't cover our costs.
3:36:19
Our founder is even draining her 41 k to keep the rescue alive, sacrificing her financial future because the need is so great.
3:36:27
And not to mention all of the volunteers that are helping along the way.
3:36:31
And the reality is the current system is broken, and we're doing everything that we can, but we are at a breaking point.
3:36:39
And this is an emergency.
3:36:40
The city needs to act.
3:36:42
The city council needs to act now.
3:36:45
We need immediate funding for high volume free or low cost pay commuter.
3:36:51
And we need affordable or low cost emergency bed care.
3:36:55
Without the city support, rescues are like ours will collapse, and these animals will suffer and die.
3:37:02
And we're just not asking, we're begging.
3:37:05
Please help us.
3:37:06
And just to add to one of the previous points on the conversation with the Flatbush cats, we would like to be involved in any initiatives bringing in Flatbush cat initiatives to Queens or any things similar to see how we can help out the best.
3:37:21
So feel free to reach.
UNKNOWN
3:37:22
Thank you very much.
Mia (Anamaria) Scuric
3:37:23
Thank you.