Tails in the News
By Josephine Zohny
Animal advocates and the Port Authority of New York butted heads as JFK Airport officials moved forward with attempts to rid the area of feral cats. The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, which has a division called the NYC Feral Cat Initiative, has been fighting to save the felines.
The Port Authority’s plan includes rounding up the cats and then depositing them in local animal shelters. On the surface, such a plan doesn’t seem like the worst option in the world—but the fact remains that once these cats end up in shelters, it is essentially a death sentence. Feral cats aren’t domesticated house cats and most of the time they are un-adoptable. In cases like these, shelters have no choice but to euthanize the animals.
The Mayor’s Alliance, in conjunction with a local organization, Neighborhood Cats, has proposed a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) plan aimed at humanely reducing the population.
In the proposal, the organization writes: “Trap-Neuter-Return involves trapping the cats in a colony, having them neutered and vaccinated for rabies, then returning the ones that cannot be adopted to their original territory. Once returned, a caretaker provides the cats with food and shelter, and monitors the colony for newcomers. TNR is endorsed by The Humane Society of the United States, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Humane Society of New York, and Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. It works where traditional methods fail because it engages a large volunteer base, eliminates reproduction through sterilization, and sets up a long-term monitoring system for new cats which can protect and further progress in reducing the numbers.”
The proposal goes on to talk about documented successes of TNR programs, including an 11-year study conducted by Julie Levy, DVM, at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The program resulted in an 85 percent decline in the feral population over the course of the study from 155 cats on campus in 1991 to 23 in 2002. Dr. Levy concludes that, “A comprehensive long-term program of neutering followed by adoption or return to the resident colony can result in reduction of free-roaming cat populations in urban areas.”
As of press time, the proposal has been ignored. Airport officials allege that the cats pose safety concerns, but no incidents have been reported thus far. According to TNR supporters, depositing the felines in shelters where they’ll likely be killed is only a short-term solution to a condition that has existed and will continue to exist. They maintain that managing the epidemic of cats through the TNR program is a much more realistic and humane endeavor to undertake. The Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners, the governing body that has the power to order an immediate halt to the extermination, was scheduled to meet on Nov. 15.
Alley Cat Allies is asking people to speak out against trapping and killing feral cats by joining its letter writing campaign to Port Authority and JFK representatives. For more information click here or visit NeighborhoodCats.org.
Located at 15th Street and Union Square West, the Union Square Dog Run has become a haven for city canines since it was created nearly 10 years ago. In an urban atmosphere, many hounds don’t have the opportunity to get as much exercise as they need and remain cooped up in apartments and
relegated to pee-pads. Considering that several studies have indicated that those who regularly walk their dogs stay in better shape, the run is great destination for both pets and their guardians. The area was designed by The Friends of Union Square Dog Run association, a nonprofit group that still manages the facility. More than 1,000 pooches enjoy the park each week. John Neil, an East Village resident, says the run is one of the nicest he’s seen. “It’s a bucolic setting in the middle of a metropolis,” he says. Costs for maintaining the dog run average more than $1,000 a year, and the association relies on donations and volunteer help to keep the park in tip-top shape. For more information visit UnionDog.org.
On Nov. 1, in the Rainbow Room of the Rockefeller Center, the New York Chapter of the ASPCA gave awards out to some worthy animals and people.
Winnie, a 14-year-old Domestic Shorthair, was named Cat of the Year by the organization for alerting her family of poisonous carbon monoxide fumes in their home. Although the family had to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, they have since recovered. Winnie was originally rescued by her guardians and has certainly returned the favor.
Dog of the Year honors went to a Golden Retriever from Maryland named Toby, who performed a make-shift Heimlich maneuver on his caretaker, after a piece of apple became lodged in her throat. Twelve-year-old Rachel Distefano was named Kid of the Year for helping Amaryllis Farm Rescue save more than 50 horses and ponies
from slaughter.
Other awards that were given out included: Firefighter of the Year, to William H. Smith III for rescuing a dog and cat from a blaze on East 196th Street; Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, to Alabama Deputy Dwight Sloan; and special awards to former baseball player Tony La Russa, WNBC-4’s Chuck Scarborough, and Bill Smith, who founded Mainline Animal Rescue in Pennsylvania. “It was a very thoughtful crowd,” says a spokesperson for the ASPCA, “The winners were all very gracious and humble and you could tell that the group really cared about animal well-being.”
Missy, a 9-year-old Pit Bull/Terrier mix, is Beyonce and she’s not one bit happy about it. Dressed in a frilly skirt and a long, flowing blond wig, she looks every bit the pop superstar, much to her chagrin. She, along with hundreds of other hounds (and a few other miscellaneous creatures) participated in the annual Tompkins Square Halloween Parade in the East Village. A tradition for 17 years, the parade has become a fixture for pet-lovers and those who simply love to watch the pooches showing off their ghoulish best. “I’ve had my dog for seven years and have been coming to the parade for six,” says Olivia Delgado, Missy’s guardian. “I can’t imagine not doing this every year. People dress up their children for Halloween. Missy’s essentially my child, you know?” Other notable costumes included perennial favorite Yoda, a Shih-tzu dressed as a Chinese take-out box, and a Bulldog channeling Amy Winehouse, replete with a ratty beehive.
Local groups lobby for TNR program to manage JFK cats
Animal advocates and the Port Authority of New York butted heads as JFK Airport officials moved forward with attempts to rid the area of feral cats. The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, which has a division called the NYC Feral Cat Initiative, has been fighting to save the felines.
The Port Authority’s plan includes rounding up the cats and then depositing them in local animal shelters. On the surface, such a plan doesn’t seem like the worst option in the world—but the fact remains that once these cats end up in shelters, it is essentially a death sentence. Feral cats aren’t domesticated house cats and most of the time they are un-adoptable. In cases like these, shelters have no choice but to euthanize the animals.
The Mayor’s Alliance, in conjunction with a local organization, Neighborhood Cats, has proposed a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) plan aimed at humanely reducing the population.
In the proposal, the organization writes: “Trap-Neuter-Return involves trapping the cats in a colony, having them neutered and vaccinated for rabies, then returning the ones that cannot be adopted to their original territory. Once returned, a caretaker provides the cats with food and shelter, and monitors the colony for newcomers. TNR is endorsed by The Humane Society of the United States, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Humane Society of New York, and Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. It works where traditional methods fail because it engages a large volunteer base, eliminates reproduction through sterilization, and sets up a long-term monitoring system for new cats which can protect and further progress in reducing the numbers.”
The proposal goes on to talk about documented successes of TNR programs, including an 11-year study conducted by Julie Levy, DVM, at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The program resulted in an 85 percent decline in the feral population over the course of the study from 155 cats on campus in 1991 to 23 in 2002. Dr. Levy concludes that, “A comprehensive long-term program of neutering followed by adoption or return to the resident colony can result in reduction of free-roaming cat populations in urban areas.”
As of press time, the proposal has been ignored. Airport officials allege that the cats pose safety concerns, but no incidents have been reported thus far. According to TNR supporters, depositing the felines in shelters where they’ll likely be killed is only a short-term solution to a condition that has existed and will continue to exist. They maintain that managing the epidemic of cats through the TNR program is a much more realistic and humane endeavor to undertake. The Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners, the governing body that has the power to order an immediate halt to the extermination, was scheduled to meet on Nov. 15.
Alley Cat Allies is asking people to speak out against trapping and killing feral cats by joining its letter writing campaign to Port Authority and JFK representatives. For more information click here or visit NeighborhoodCats.org.
Spotlight on: Union Square Dog Run
Located at 15th Street and Union Square West, the Union Square Dog Run has become a haven for city canines since it was created nearly 10 years ago. In an urban atmosphere, many hounds don’t have the opportunity to get as much exercise as they need and remain cooped up in apartments and
relegated to pee-pads. Considering that several studies have indicated that those who regularly walk their dogs stay in better shape, the run is great destination for both pets and their guardians. The area was designed by The Friends of Union Square Dog Run association, a nonprofit group that still manages the facility. More than 1,000 pooches enjoy the park each week. John Neil, an East Village resident, says the run is one of the nicest he’s seen. “It’s a bucolic setting in the middle of a metropolis,” he says. Costs for maintaining the dog run average more than $1,000 a year, and the association relies on donations and volunteer help to keep the park in tip-top shape. For more information visit UnionDog.org.
ASPCA names dog, cat, people of the year
On Nov. 1, in the Rainbow Room of the Rockefeller Center, the New York Chapter of the ASPCA gave awards out to some worthy animals and people.
Winnie, a 14-year-old Domestic Shorthair, was named Cat of the Year by the organization for alerting her family of poisonous carbon monoxide fumes in their home. Although the family had to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, they have since recovered. Winnie was originally rescued by her guardians and has certainly returned the favor.
Dog of the Year honors went to a Golden Retriever from Maryland named Toby, who performed a make-shift Heimlich maneuver on his caretaker, after a piece of apple became lodged in her throat. Twelve-year-old Rachel Distefano was named Kid of the Year for helping Amaryllis Farm Rescue save more than 50 horses and ponies
from slaughter.
Other awards that were given out included: Firefighter of the Year, to William H. Smith III for rescuing a dog and cat from a blaze on East 196th Street; Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, to Alabama Deputy Dwight Sloan; and special awards to former baseball player Tony La Russa, WNBC-4’s Chuck Scarborough, and Bill Smith, who founded Mainline Animal Rescue in Pennsylvania. “It was a very thoughtful crowd,” says a spokesperson for the ASPCA, “The winners were all very gracious and humble and you could tell that the group really cared about animal well-being.”
Hound-oween takes Manhattan
Missy, a 9-year-old Pit Bull/Terrier mix, is Beyonce and she’s not one bit happy about it. Dressed in a frilly skirt and a long, flowing blond wig, she looks every bit the pop superstar, much to her chagrin. She, along with hundreds of other hounds (and a few other miscellaneous creatures) participated in the annual Tompkins Square Halloween Parade in the East Village. A tradition for 17 years, the parade has become a fixture for pet-lovers and those who simply love to watch the pooches showing off their ghoulish best. “I’ve had my dog for seven years and have been coming to the parade for six,” says Olivia Delgado, Missy’s guardian. “I can’t imagine not doing this every year. People dress up their children for Halloween. Missy’s essentially my child, you know?” Other notable costumes included perennial favorite Yoda, a Shih-tzu dressed as a Chinese take-out box, and a Bulldog channeling Amy Winehouse, replete with a ratty beehive.
