Yes! Let's have licensed Bodega cats that are well cared for and spayed or neutered. After that is accomplished, and I know that won't be as quickly as I would like, let's vote for lots more funding for TNR so that we can limit the increasing and chronic overpopulation of cats in New York City. With the high cost of spaying and neutering and Veterinary Care, it is impossible to have all the cats that are adoptable in New York City placed in good homes. There are just not enough potential adopters. We need to keep the cat population from growing as exponentially as it has. Let's be humane and take care of those we already have and safeguard them by requiring all NYC cats be spayed or neutered, including community cats. Cats are a treasure and should be treated as royalty. Bodega cats must be kept safely so that they cannot impregnate street cats.
Thanks, Eva - wonderful comment. NYC has a lot of wealth -- but those overseeing how it is spent on animals have done a terrible, irresponsible job. I still harp on the $500,000 in the mayor's budget that was given in its entirety to Flatbush Cats for spay/neuter -- ignoring the boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, and Queens -- all due to the incompetence and ignorance of the former speaker, and the head of the Health Committee Lynn Schulman, who unfortunately is still in that position. To clarify -- I have nothing against Flatbush Cats -- they have an excellent reputation. But currently, I am looking for a low-cost facility to neuter some bodega cats; I don't have a car and live far from Brooklyn.
Excellent article. I love that you unearthed yourself in your thorough research. I agree that, in addition to enforcement, they must be microchipped and/or tagged. People love their bodega cats but we all know that there are both ill-meaning and supposedly well-meaning people that have been known to take them. Linda Rosenthal is definitely the person to introduce this with her great record on protecting our feline friends. Ideally, cats are safer when strictly kept indoors but with the overpopulation crisis a well-cared for Bodega cat at least has a home. I hope this bill will get passed with many of your suggestions incorporated.
Thanks, Teresa -- I value your opinion. I sent this article to Linda Rosenthal's office, and I hope to work with them on this issue. As you know, my "free" time was taken up by the carriage horse issue for many years -- but cats - as I'm sure you agree - are permanently in my heart. For years (and still), I struggle to deal with store cats or cats being offered for adoption by rescue groups — it hurts too much. I assume the bill introduced by former CM Powers is dead in the water. It was poorly written and it needed to be coordinated with NYS Ag & Markets.
Great article, Elizabeth. It's so rich in history and background information. Your recommendations for the NYS Rosenthal Bodega Cat Bill A08341 are right on the money.
Thanks for documenting this. I hope it gets wide coverage. I'll share for sure!
There is no point in having a bill or law passed if THEY ARE NOT ENFORCED. Makes no sense at all. Just a complete WASTE OF TIME AND EFFORT. Midas well do NOTHING at all!!!! Somebody with some backbone and compassion to do things the right way to make some concrete changes to actually BENEFIT these poor tortured animals not just a lot of talk with no real action taken to make a difference!!!
Absolutely. We're nowhere without it, as the article says. Add your voice!! Get in touch with Linda Rosenthal's office and insist that enforcement be part of the bill. Elizabeth names the sad litany of failed bills that were not enforced and are meaningless. rosenthall@nyassembly.gov
Thanks, Sheila. Rosenthal's local office number in Manhattan is (212) 873-6368. I always suggest people call the office and speak to a live person. Emails have a tendency to go into the "circular file."
Great article. The LAW must be literally laid down for aggressive SN actions for the sake of the cats . Im angry storekeepers sell litters and dump cats. Evidently they do not value the cats to keep the vermin population down like they should.
Yes! Let's have licensed Bodega cats that are well cared for and spayed or neutered. After that is accomplished, and I know that won't be as quickly as I would like, let's vote for lots more funding for TNR so that we can limit the increasing and chronic overpopulation of cats in New York City. With the high cost of spaying and neutering and Veterinary Care, it is impossible to have all the cats that are adoptable in New York City placed in good homes. There are just not enough potential adopters. We need to keep the cat population from growing as exponentially as it has. Let's be humane and take care of those we already have and safeguard them by requiring all NYC cats be spayed or neutered, including community cats. Cats are a treasure and should be treated as royalty. Bodega cats must be kept safely so that they cannot impregnate street cats.
Thanks, Eva - wonderful comment. NYC has a lot of wealth -- but those overseeing how it is spent on animals have done a terrible, irresponsible job. I still harp on the $500,000 in the mayor's budget that was given in its entirety to Flatbush Cats for spay/neuter -- ignoring the boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, and Queens -- all due to the incompetence and ignorance of the former speaker, and the head of the Health Committee Lynn Schulman, who unfortunately is still in that position. To clarify -- I have nothing against Flatbush Cats -- they have an excellent reputation. But currently, I am looking for a low-cost facility to neuter some bodega cats; I don't have a car and live far from Brooklyn.
Excellent article. I love that you unearthed yourself in your thorough research. I agree that, in addition to enforcement, they must be microchipped and/or tagged. People love their bodega cats but we all know that there are both ill-meaning and supposedly well-meaning people that have been known to take them. Linda Rosenthal is definitely the person to introduce this with her great record on protecting our feline friends. Ideally, cats are safer when strictly kept indoors but with the overpopulation crisis a well-cared for Bodega cat at least has a home. I hope this bill will get passed with many of your suggestions incorporated.
Thanks, Teresa -- I value your opinion. I sent this article to Linda Rosenthal's office, and I hope to work with them on this issue. As you know, my "free" time was taken up by the carriage horse issue for many years -- but cats - as I'm sure you agree - are permanently in my heart. For years (and still), I struggle to deal with store cats or cats being offered for adoption by rescue groups — it hurts too much. I assume the bill introduced by former CM Powers is dead in the water. It was poorly written and it needed to be coordinated with NYS Ag & Markets.
Great article, Elizabeth. It's so rich in history and background information. Your recommendations for the NYS Rosenthal Bodega Cat Bill A08341 are right on the money.
Thanks for documenting this. I hope it gets wide coverage. I'll share for sure!
Sheila
There is no point in having a bill or law passed if THEY ARE NOT ENFORCED. Makes no sense at all. Just a complete WASTE OF TIME AND EFFORT. Midas well do NOTHING at all!!!! Somebody with some backbone and compassion to do things the right way to make some concrete changes to actually BENEFIT these poor tortured animals not just a lot of talk with no real action taken to make a difference!!!
Absolutely. We're nowhere without it, as the article says. Add your voice!! Get in touch with Linda Rosenthal's office and insist that enforcement be part of the bill. Elizabeth names the sad litany of failed bills that were not enforced and are meaningless. rosenthall@nyassembly.gov
Thanks, Sheila. Rosenthal's local office number in Manhattan is (212) 873-6368. I always suggest people call the office and speak to a live person. Emails have a tendency to go into the "circular file."
Thanks for your comment, Susan. Linda Rosenthal's office number is 212) 873-6368.
They open at 10 - but if you have a chance, please give them a call and tell them you support the bill.
That's where the public can hold elected officials feet to the fire to enforce those laws!!
Definitely true. The public needs to speak up. I have already contacted Rosenthal’s office. SPEAK UP everyone!!!
Great article. The LAW must be literally laid down for aggressive SN actions for the sake of the cats . Im angry storekeepers sell litters and dump cats. Evidently they do not value the cats to keep the vermin population down like they should.