New York City’s bodega cats could be in line for increased protection under proposed new measures to regulate their care.
These iconic felines are loved by the city’s residents, but animal welfare advocates claim too many are malnourished, ill, or abandoned, not getting the best cat food and care they need.
An online petition proposes removing the fines for keeping a cat in a food business and replacing them with both a certification program and a fund for vet bills.
There are currently more than 8,350 signatures on the petition, which reads: “Bodega cats have long been an iconic part of New York City’s soul – they keep shops pest-free, brighten our streets, and offer comfort to communities. Yet outdated health codes and inconsistent care practices leave many of these cats at risk and burden small business owners with unfair fines.”
Dan Rimada, the founder of the @BodegaCatsofNewYork page on Instagram, launched the campaign, which would include a $30,000 Bodega Cats Support Fund. It would be funded through a discretionary funding request in City Council and would launch in 15 bodegas as a trial. Money would also be raised through participating bodega owners each contributing $150 in annual fees.
Around $20,000 of the funding would be managed by nonprofits and fund neutering, vaccines, and emergency healthcare, with the rest spent on stipends for rescuers.
Tiff Winton, who has helped save a number of abandoned cats in NYC, tells the New York Post, “As much as bodega cats are beloved in New York, most of them are abused and neglected.”
The voluntary certification program would require bodega owners to take a free online training course about responsible pet care and food safety, and an online reporting portal would let locals and rescue groups flag any concerns. Repeat issues could lead to inspections and potentially certification revocation.
Winton explains, “There needs to be some sort of process that holds bodega owners accountable. If you have a dog, you have to get a license for it…but there’s no regulations for [cats], nobody is watching if anyone is taking care of them.”
The city health department directed the New York Post to the state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets for comment. It said it “has not been approached about this effort” thus far.
If you have cats yourself, here are 32 ways to save money as a cat owner. Or if you would like to help animals like bodega cats, take a look at these reasons to volunteer with an animal rescue.
