NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Two private animal rescue groups were alerted of dozens of cats in need of rescue from a Queens apartment on Thursday evening, some of which has been thrown out the window, and received no help from city agencies.
On the scene were two NYC animal rescue groups, Greenpoint Cats and Puppy Kitty NYC. The NYPD, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or city officials were nowhere to be found.
Private rescuers told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 that they were called and messaged on social media about the incident, with locals requesting their help at the gruesome scene outside an abandoned apartment on Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven.
“We hear that they were jumping out windows, being thrown out windows, hanging from the awnings. That’s a scene that no one wants to see,” Angela Connell of Puppy Kitty NYC said.
The private responders told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 that they found at least 15 cats outside, and more upstairs. A total of 34 were rescued, after rescuers saved more from the upstairs apartment.
“They’re terrified, one had no back legs, filthy, starving, it was a mass effort to get these cats into carriers and traps,” Becky Wisdom of Greenpoint Cats said.
The cats were sent off to veterinarians and shelters.
It is unclear how the cats ended up outside, but 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 confirmed that there was an eviction at the residence on Jan. 4.
Rescue groups have pointed to this incident as a failure of the system, as there is no protocol in place for city officials to handle situations where animals are being abused or neglected.
ASPCA is not able to get involved in an incident until cruelty is officially determined by the NYPD, officials said.
“We are in contact with our partners at the NYPD and have not received a request to assist with this situation in Queens, so we are not currently involved,” the ASPCA said in a statement on Wednesday.
City Hall has an Office of Animal Welfare, which rescue groups told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 is staffed by one person.
“You can’t see cats literally starving, desperate to be saved and rescued, and just say ‘you know what, let’s just wait city agencies who work nine to five to come and handle this.’ And who knows when that would be,” Meagan Licari of Puppy Kitty NYC said.
Wisdom told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 that she wants “Greater funding and infrastructure and safety nets around animal welfare, so when 15 cats are being thrown out a window, that there is an action plan in place.”
In addition to a lack of response options, funding from the city for spay and neuter services are in decline since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the services have become more expensive.
The ASPCA said in a statement that expanding access to spay and neuter services is a priority, and they continue to advocate for City Council to increase funding.
“ASPCA programs and services are not meant to replace municipal services, and the City must properly fund its Animal Care Centers to ensure they can provide critical resources, including spay/neuter surgeries, to the community,” the ASPCA said.
The situation is one that has shed light on the city’s lack of protocol and funding around animal welfare.
“This was a moment where we just saw all of the different ways in which the system failed,” Wisdom said.