PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Steve Gruber, Director of Communications of Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals
7:33:42
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159 sec
Steve Gruber from the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals testified about the historical success in reducing euthanasia rates in NYC animal shelters and the current challenges facing animal welfare in the city. He called for increased city funding to support spay/neuter services and low-cost veterinary care.
- Highlighted the collaboration of 150 rescue groups and shelters that increased ACC's live release rate to over 90% since 2003
- Emphasized that relying solely on existing organizations is not sustainable to meet current challenges
- Expressed support for Intro 1018, proposed by Council Member Brennan
Steve Gruber
7:33:42
No.
7:33:43
I'm Steve Gruber.
7:33:44
I'm the director of communications with the mayor alliance for New York City's animals.
7:33:49
The alliance is a nonprofit charity that serves as a source of information for pet owners and others seeking services and resources to care for their pets and anyone looking to help improve the lives of New York City's animals.
7:34:03
Now I'm gonna my testimony has been filed already, so I'm just gonna kinda cut to the chase.
7:34:09
You so many people have said so many important things today.
7:34:12
We know what the problem is.
7:34:15
And I wanna just refer back in history a little bit.
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In 20 2003, New York City faced a crisis where 3 out of every 4 animals coming into the New York City shelters were euthanized.
7:34:29
And rather than throwing up our hands and saying that's awful.
7:34:34
In response, the rescue community came together in a collaboration spearheaded by the VIN newly created mayor's alliance for New York City's animals and eventually a 150 rescue groups and shelters, including ACC and the ASBCA banded together under the alliance banner and created new strategies to increase adoptions, expand spay neuter options, and drive down euthanasia rates.
7:35:02
And this unprecedented effort paid off handsomely after over year the years where we were able to increase the live release rate at ACC to more than 90%.
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Now today's challenges, today threatens to derail those hard work hard one successes in lifesaving.
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And to continue to rely solely upon the ASPCA, ACC and other dedicated animal welfare organizations and independent rescuers to shoulder that burden isn't sustainable.
7:35:36
They alone cannot satisfy the needs of our community.
7:35:40
And so today, we're asking the city beginning with the city council to step up and provide funding to
UNKNOWN
7:35:46
some Thank you for your testimony, your time.
7:35:48
Expire.
Lynn C. Schulman
7:35:49
That's okay.
7:35:50
Just finish up.
Steve Gruber
7:35:51
And existing efforts of to create and expand existing high volume spay neuter resources and low cost community veterinary facilities to meet the needs of the public and the rescue community.
7:36:04
We implore our city's leaders to commit to sharing the cost of providing those much needed services if we are to solve this very solvable problem.
7:36:14
And on a separate note, I'd like to express our support for counsel member, Brennan's intro 1018.
7:36:20
Thank you very much.
Lynn C. Schulman
7:36:21
Thank you very much.