PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Rio Polody, Independent Rescuer and Animal Rights Advocate
4:01:35
·
114 sec
Rio Polody, an independent rescuer and animal rights advocate, shared her experiences with animal rescue and TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) work spanning over 25 years. She emphasized the effectiveness of TNR in reducing cat populations and highlighted the challenges faced by individual rescuers in New York City.
- Polody described a successful community-run TNR initiative in Ocean Beach, Fire Island, which reduced the cat population by 90% in two years.
- She stressed the high personal costs and lack of city support for individual rescuers, citing a recent rescue that cost her over $1000 and two weeks of intensive care.
- Polody called for city-funded high-volume spay/neuter programs, affordable veterinary care, and vaccination programs to support animal welfare efforts in New York City.
Rio Polody
4:01:35
Thank you so much for the counsel of everything you're doing.
4:01:38
My name is Rio Polody.
4:01:39
I am an independent rescuer, animal rights advocate, and former volunteer for the mayor's alliance before the 2019 shift from a city funded organization to privately run charities.
4:01:49
I reside in district number 3 and proudly voted for city council representative and Vifar endorsed Eric Watcher.
4:01:55
I started doing rescue and TNR work as a child alongside my mother over 25 years ago in Fire Island.
4:02:01
Over fifty cats have found their forever homes through our efforts, coming off the streets getting fade neutered and vaccinated on our personal time and personal time.
4:02:09
In my hometown of Ocean Beach Fire Island, we had a community run initiative by an incredible man, John Jay, where all the town's people trapped as many cats as possible, while a team of volunteer volunteer vet performed high volumes by enduter surgeries.
4:02:25
After the 1st year, we reduced the CAP population by 75% by the 2nd year 90%.
4:02:31
TNR works, but Fire Island is a small community and not the behemoth that New York city is, and individual rescuers are being lost and exploited in the lack of 1 concerted city effort.
4:02:41
My last New York City rescue alone cost me over $1000 in emergency vet care and 2 weeks of sleepless nights of around the clock care.
4:02:49
There was no city agency that could assist or provide relief.
4:02:52
And unfortunately, I am only one of countless other advocates with the same story.
4:02:56
It is not sustainable.
4:02:58
The incredible people at ACC and animal heroes in this room and many other beyond have poured their blood, sweat, time, tears, and hardworking dollars into making a difference in the city that we love so much.
4:03:09
We are strained and exhausted, but not a single one of us is ready to give up.
4:03:13
We are just asking for help.
4:03:14
New Yorkers deserve a high volume city funded spanduter program.
4:03:18
We deserve affordable vet care and vaccination programs.
4:03:21
Bob Barker ended every program by telling us to go stay anew to our pets, so don't let his efforts be in vain, and please let us.
4:03:28
Thank you.
