September
1995
The
View from Astoria: Cat and Dog Overpopulation
By Jane Hanley
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The cat and dog overpopulation situation in New
York City is, by any account, a crisis. Some of the most serious troublespots
in the City are in Astoria, Queens. Astoria resident Jane Hanley
explains.
Iam one of a large and growing number of Astoria residents who are
rescuing cats and dogs from the streets, roofs, basements, alleys,
and dumpsters
of Astoria. We span all walks of life and professions from corporate
officers to artists to teachers. We are fighting a losing battle in
trying to educate people, clean up the animals from the street, spay
and neuter strays and other people’s pets, and stem the tide
of overpopulation in one, or several, beings.
Astoria has developed into a seething dumping ground for unwanted pets
and stray animals. There is an extremely high population of homeless
animals, and they are developing communities amongst our own. Many
were
household pets once that outlived their convenience or practicality,
and were left to fend for themselves. Well-meaning animal feeders are
trying to keep up with their needs, but are simply contributing to
the
problem by not spaying and neutering the animals. Animal nuisance complaints
are up and hundreds of animals are being born each day. Even our city’s
euthanization programs cannot stem this reproductive faucet.
Feral Cat Colonies: Thriving in the Shadows
Colonies of feral cats are existing and growing in most alleys, apartment
building complex basements, parking lots, and warehouses in Astoria.
Some of the densest populations exist around 31st Street and 23rd Road,
Crescent Street apartments, 23rd Avenue and 34th Street. Many landlords
and apartment building employees are poisoning, clubbing, disposing
of litters in dumpsters, and setting dogs on these cat populations.
These locations are dirty and unhealthy, and in spite of these odds,
cat populations are surviving and growing.
Breeding season of feral cats extends generally from February through
October. Female cats breed an average of two or three times a year
(four
times is not uncommon). Even with a high kitten mortality rate, colonies
are increasing at a rate of 30-40% each year. Add to this the high
incidence
of locals dumping intact household pets in these “colonies”
and the colonies can double in size in two years. There are also “store” cats
throughout Astoria that breed unchecked in basements and store rooms.
(One pizzeria’s employees have left the store cat’s kittens
at the parking lot on 31st Street at five weeks old. This relieves the
pizzeria of its own overpopulation problem; the rest of Astoria is not
so lucky.) Some store cats are not even fed, as the assumption is that
they will be more prolific mousers by not feeding them. These animals
receive no medical care, are not vaccinated, tested, or altered, and
they are located in businesses that serve food. They are usually abandoned
as “pets” once they breed.
Dogs: Misery breeds Misery
Growing numbers of pet dogs are being abandoned in Astoria Park, Long
Island City factory areas, Ditmars Boulevard, and LaGuardia airport
property. Most are large dogs between six months and two years that
obviously outgrew someone’s tolerance for inconvenience. Few of
these dogs can be rescued by animal rescuers, simply because of the
dogs’ size and fear. They run, frightened and confused, until
they collapse or are hit by cars.
The explosive situation of Pit Bull overbreeding threatens the public
as well as the ill-raised animals themselves. Huge numbers of young
men buy poorly-bred Pit Bulls, tout them as weapons, and breed them
yet again for profit. They can be seen on 31st Street with the dogs
unleashed, to prove their control over the animals. If these owners
are asked by the public to leash or control the animal, the dogs act
as their response. Today, many Pit Bulls run free at Astoria Park, threatening
the public.
Last summer, a Pit Bull was “set” upon a stray cat in Astoria
Park in front a park full of people. The cat was dead within seconds,
while the dog’s owner and his friends cheered. The on-lookers
were horrified, but what was their recourse? Any complaint addressed
to the dog’s owner would have resulted in the dog being set on
the challenger. Everyone looked the other way.
Pet Stores Contribute to Overpopulation
The pet stores in our neighborhood are selling kittens and puppies bred
in squalid surroundings, complete with worms, parasites, blood diseases,
and respiratory diseases for $50 to $500 per animal. I can attest to
this personally, as I have bought many of them to save them, including
an American Eskimo puppy that was held in the store for two weeks in
a fish tank. The purchasers of these young animals are not advised of
these health problems, and come back in a week or so when the animals
are dead to get refunds. Many do not even know to take the animal to
a veterinarian.
Pet stores owned by responsible people have recognized the vastness
of the animal surplus in New York and are no longer selling kittens
and puppies. These stores lend floor space in their stores to adoption
centers to display rescued animals for adoption, and adopters buy the
supplies for the animals from the store, benefiting all parties. In
Astoria, I would gladly settle for stores that did not sell kittens
or puppies, and did little else towards overpopulation. They are generally
poorly run, animals are in ill health, and they care little for the
problems of animal overpopulation, save for where it may profit them.
Why Spay/Neuter Legislation is Necessary
Two out of the three veterinary clinics in Astoria participate in low-cost
spay/neuter certificate programs. In spite of this, the numbers of
animals
spayed and neutered have increased at a marginal percentage. Some pet
owners think it’s troublesome to write away and obtain certificates.
Many pet owners simply feel that the pet is not worth the money to
spay
or neuter, or that it is not their responsibility. Others purposely
breed and sell the animals in less than optimal conditions and view
the animal as a source of income, nothing more. It is to these ends
that we need animal overpopulation legislation to speak.
If the number of animals euthanized in NYC last year is about 40,000
with an animal control budget of less than $5 million, we can extrapolate
these figures. In the next five years, New York City will spend more
than $25 million to kill 200,000 animals — at the very least.
What we know
We must acknowledge that animal care and control in New York City, by
any standard, is not working. More cages, more euthanasia, and more
facilities are not the solution. To continue animal care and control
in New York City, as we now know it, is to throw millions of dollars
and animals away. We must look to more financially responsible and enlightened
means of control. Please ask your City Councilmember to support Intro.
321, sponsored by Kathryn Freed, which would regulate the spaying and
neutering, breeding, and sale of companion animals. Call Friends of
Animals for more details: 212-247-8120.
Jane Hanley is an animal activist and rescuer who
lives in Astoria, Queens. This article is adapted from a presentation
she made to City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, whose district is Astoria,
and who will determine whether Intro. 321 will be brought before the
City Council.
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