NEW YORK (1010 WINS) If you build it, they will come. And that's exactly what Flatbush Cats is hoping for.
"We've got tens of thousands of cats fighting to survive outdoors in New York City. Shelters remain full, rescue groups are overwhelmed, and the cycle has continued for decades," Executive Director Will Zweigart told 1010 WINS. "In the last year, New York City shelters have seen a 25 percent increase in surrenders and financial barriers are the number one reason."
To help reverse that trend, this Brooklyn-based cat rescue organization has launched a 1.5 million dollar fundraiser to open a low-cost spay-neuter clinic that will be open to the public five days a week.
Animals adopted from rescue groups come spayed/neutered and vaccinated but for those paying at a local animal hospital, the fee can run as high as 900 dollars for that basic care.
"We talked to a lot of folks who found a cat outside and didn't adopt it from a shelter, so they need the works," Zweigart explains. "In our case that would run you roughly $150 and that would include spay, vaccinations and deworming if needed."
And it's not just for cats. The clinic will also provide the same low cost service for dogs as well. Animals presented with illnesses beyond deworming will be referred to other veterinary facilities.
The building process has already begun after Flatbush Cats secured a ten year lease at a location on Flatbush Avenue. They've hired a Director of Operations and lead Veterinarian, and say two vet techs, two assistants and an office manager will round out the full time seven person team.
The group is getting support from the New York Community Trust, the ASPCA and some well-known figures in the animal rescue community including Jackson Galaxy and Hannah Shaw (aka The Kitten Lady), but Zweigart says they still need donations from the public to both complete the facility and support ongoing operations.
The plan is to be up and running by early 2023. Flatbush Cats is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so donations are tax deductible. Get more information at FlatbushCats.org/Build.