Killing Cats Doesn’t Fly

UPDATE/11-2-07: Alley Cat Allies has added their considerable force to the fight, see press release HERE.

IDA, In Defense of Animals, has posted an online ACTION ALERT form that makes it super easy for everyone to contact the bureaucrats responsible for the ongoing situation with the JFK feral cats. Forward the link to friends and family, it only takes a minute and time is running out. Rounding up the cats is not a viable, long-term solution for the cats or the Port Authority. Let’s keep up the pressure, call and write the contacts below as well!

Todays Press Release from Neighborhood Cats…

November 1, 2007
for immediate release (please cross-post)
contact: Neighborhood Cats
212-662-5761
headcat@neighborhoodcats.org

PORT AUTHORITY EXTERMINATION EFFORT DUMPS SEVEN MORE JFK CATS AT ANIMAL CONTROL - Animal Activists Vow to Continue Fight as Long as Necessary

(New York, Nov. 1, 2007) Seven more feline victims of the extermination drive being conducted by Port Authority of NY and NJ at JFK Airport were dropped off at animal control this morning. The one day lull in the culling effort provided rescuers with time to find new locations where these cats can be brought, bringing to 17 the number of cats reprieved from a death sentence. Leaders of the NYC Feral Cat Initiative, a program of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, vowed to fight the Port Authority down to the last cat. “They want us to disappear just like the cats,” said Bryan Kortis of Neighborhood Cats. “Neither is going to happen.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO
This is a marathon - not a sprint. You are our foot soldiers and there are many thousands of us all over the world - everytime you call, email or fax, you send a loud message that we will not tolerate this senseless killing. Do not tire or get discouraged but keep calling and writing - if you get a busy signal, call again. If the email bounces back, let us know and we’ll find another one. WE MUST NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS!! Or others will try to do the same. (Next Monday, we will announce the time and place of our next major protest.)

WHO TO CONTACT (Note: we’ve added Gov. Corzine of NJ - he also has some authority over Port Authority).

Anthony R. Coscia, Chairman
Board of Commisioners
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Phone: 732.846.2120 (direct line)
732-846-7600 (this is the general number for Mr. Coscia’s law firm)
Fax: 732.846.8877
E-Mail: acoscia@windelsmarx.com

Robert E. Wan Etten, Inspector General
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Main Office: (973) 565-4340
24-Hour Pager: (917) 788-6277
FAX: (973) 565-4307
Email: InspectorGeneral@panynj.gov

The Honorable Eliot Spitzer, Governor, New York
212-681-4580 (phone)
518-474-1513 (Fax)
Email: go to www.ny.gov and click on “contact us” at the bottom of the page, or use this direct link: http://161.11.121.121/govemail

The Honorable John Corzine, Governor, New Jersey
609-292-6000
Email: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html

The Honorable David Patterson, Lieutenant Governor, New York
518-474-4623
Email: Ltgovernor.correspondence@chamber.state.ny.us

Port Authority Corporate Headquarters
(212) 435-7000
(212) 435-7777
(get a live person on the line and demand to speak to someone about the JFK situation - keep calling until they respond - they’re hiding from the public!)

WHAT TO SAY
1. Demand a stop to the extermination effort and good faith talks with the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals designed at implementing a pilot TNR project at JFK.

2. The Inspector General of the Port Authority told callers yesterday that PA is not killing the cats. That’s like saying, “I didn’t fire the gun, I only hired the hit man.” PA will be responsible when the dead cats start piling up, not the shelter faced with no choice but to euthanize.

3. WHEN CALLING THE GOVERNORS OF NY & NJ: Demand the Governors reject Port Authority’s new request for major toll increases on all its bridges, tunnels and subway lines. If Port Authority has money to burn on killing cats, they do not need more money.

Tags: Cats, euthanasia, feral, jfk, mta, neuter, nyc, protest, release, return, tnr, trap