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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Giselle Orazo, Founder of Paws of Hope NYC
6:01:09
·
100 sec
Giselle Orazo, founder of Paws of Hope NYC, urges the City Council to allocate funding for free and low-cost spay/neuter services to address the crisis of abandoned pets and animal overpopulation in New York City. She emphasizes the need for systemic change, including the creation of a dedicated Department of Animal Welfare.
- Highlights the growing problem of pet abandonment, particularly cats, in East New York Brooklyn
- Stresses the financial burden on rescuers and the lack of subsidized services
- Advocates for the establishment of a Department of Animal Welfare to ensure accountability and centralized response to animal welfare issues
Giselle Orazo
6:01:09
Good afternoon.
6:01:12
My name is Chisela Raso and I'm the founder of Paws of Hope NYC, a grassroots rescue effort in East New York Brooklyn.
6:01:21
I'm also a registered New Hope Rescue partner with the ACC.
6:01:26
I'm here to urge the City Council to allocate desperately needed funding for free and low cost spaynoodle services.
6:01:34
Every week I receive heartbreaking calls about cats dumped in parks, alleys, and sidewalks abandoned like trash.
6:01:42
These aren't feral cats.
6:01:44
They're friendly once loved pets discarded because their owners couldn't care for them.
6:01:49
Many never spayed or neutered.
6:01:51
This oversight fuels a growing crisis of suffering on our streets.
6:01:56
The financial burden on rescuers like me is overwhelming.
6:02:01
Without reliable funding and access to subsidized services we're drowning.
6:02:07
But funding alone isn't enough.
6:02:09
New York City has no dedicated Department of Animal Welfare.
6:02:13
Without it, there's no accountability or centralized response to this crisis.
6:02:19
We can't fix this without systemic change.
6:02:23
Investing in spay neuter directly addresses pet overpopulation and abandonment and exploring a Department of Animal Welfare lays the groundwork for protecting both animals and people long term.
6:02:38
I urge the council to act not just with compassion but with courage.
6:02:45
Let's prevent the pain before it begins.
6:02:48
Thank you.