AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY

what's the point of the public testifying before the NYC Council

People who care about animals in New York City only have the City Council to advocate for them because the Council has a lot of control over policy and the government's purse strings.

So it was with great hope that hundreds of animal activists attended a Council Health Committee hearing on September 13, 2024. The hearing was deferred from June when it was supposed to focus on oversight of the municipal animal shelter- NYC Animal Care Center (ACC). Instead, it was about the state of animal rescue.

A great topic – but incomplete.

The hearing mostly did not cover dog rescuers or the conditions at NYCACC. Hundreds of animal rescuers, activists, and advocates registered to speak – their testimony earnest and sincere – taking time off from work, losing money, and making many sacrifices. – staying until early evening.

Hopeful.

This testimony from the September 13th hearing can be viewed on the Council website.

The Health Committee oversees animal issues in NYC, but its prime focus is on human health – thus most of its committee members have no interest in animal issues – and did not attend the hearing. This is typical.

Many of those who testified were TNR (trap/neuter/return) cat rescuers. NYC’s homeless cat population is estimated to be between 500,000 to 1 million, but there is no official count. The lack of widespread spay/neuter services and the exorbitant cost – coupled with costly general veterinary services falls on these rescuers.

They are not supported by the city government – yet are doing the government’s work - the responsibility of “animal control.” Because they care, they sacrifice and pay for this out of their own pockets and spend countless hours tending to their cat colonies. They are unsung heroes.

While the NYC government acknowledges the existence of TNR, they do not support it financially.

It’s irresponsible and short-sighted!

An intact female cat can give birth as early as six months to a litter of between four and six kittens. According to Bide-a-wee in NYC, a pair of intact cats can produce more than 400,000 cats in 7 years!

Oddly, there were few dog rescuers at the hearing, and the plight of homeless dogs – especially the “undesirable” breeds – unfortunately was not discussed. Most cats and dogs do not do well at the ACC and become stressed out and depressed. But dogs need to be walked and their behavior and interactions bring more negative attention. Between 27 and 30 dogs on the ACC Emergency Placement List are euthanized each month –almost no cats from this list. Many dogs (and cats) at the overcrowded shelter get sick with pneumonia and kennel cough.

What can we do?

There are too many homeless animals either on the street or in the shelters who end up dead. The number one issue is the lack of free or low-cost spay/neuter for all animals – to bring the population down – an issue that the NYC government has never addressed.

Animals are dumped at the shelter for a myriad of reasons – lack of housing that allows pets is the most important – but it also includes, allergies, behavior, high cost of vet care, moving, and no time. In 2023, 1,589 animals were euthanized at the ACC – 598 dogs and 952 cats – all precious souls.

I don’t blame the ACC. I blame society and our government. This is the wealthiest city in the world, but it’s third world for our homeless cats and dogs.

City Council committees are required by law to hold public hearings where people can testify. But the Committees are not required to take action. So, what’s the point? Most of the people who testified thought their contribution would make a difference.

They were wrong. It was an exercise in futility and the status quo continues.

The hearing was covered well by the Brooklyn Paper.

Note CM Shulman’s quote: “New York City has a long history of being a national leader in the implementation of innovative policies,” Schulman said. “We need to make sure to ensure that city resources are being adequately provided as well as funded, but we also need to address the root causes of these issues, and not just put a Band-Aid on a deep wound.”

This is all lip service. We are still waiting for the Health Committee, under her leadership, to do something.

Many of us expected that Council Member Lynn Schulman, the committee chair – would address all the concerns and make recommendations. But so far all we’ve had is radio silence – including ignored voicemail messages to her office.

We need accountability.

The City Council Speaker, Adrienne Adams, needs to set up a separate committee that focuses on Animal Issues and consists of Council Members who care about animal issues. She has the power to do this. We’ve started a petition directed to her. Please sign and circulate.

In the interim, my organization has reached out to the 51 members of the City Council asking them to give between $10-15,000 from their discretionary funds to the ACC so they could contract with one of the mobile vans to offer spay/neuter services in their council district. Many will ignore my plea. But it could be a start.

With the money raised, if every Council Member cooperated, it could prevent the births of about 5,000 animals in one year. One Council district at $15,000 could offer about 100 procedures. It’s not much but is more than is being done now.

The NYC government needs to address this issue.

They need to do much better.