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Our local paper "Bronx Times" reported on our rally and our response to Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr's rejection of the state of the art animal facility and low cost veterinary clinic
"Animal advocates, who said the borough desperately needs a full-service animal shelter as soon as possible, held a rally at the site on Tuesday, July 31, and indicated they would continue to fight for the location.
One of the animal advocates who was disappointed but not surprised by Diaz’s decision was Roxanne Delgado of Bronx Animal Rights Electors, who organized a petition drive on Chang e.org that garnered support for Bartow site and was among those who rallied there after the BP’s decision.
Delgado said she believes that a developer wants the site for an alternate use, and she also acknowledged that it would be an uphill battle to see the animal shelter sited on Bartow Avenue.
She seemed to disagree with at least part of the borough president’s reasoning that since the Co-op City community typically is not one of pet owners, an animal shelter should not be sited there.
“A lot of people...probably don’t eat seafood, does that mean we shouldn’t have a Red Lobster?” she asked, referring to a seafood restaurant that’s next door to the site.
Rally participant Egidio Sementilli, who helps feral cats in his Pelham Bay community and collected petition signatures in favor of the Bartow Avenue location, said that the borough president’s recommendation turned down city funding to help animals and create jobs.
Another of the Bartow Avenue proponents, Bernadette Ferrara, a certified animal rescuer who voluntarily performs ‘Trap Neuter and Return’ for feral cats, said that she and others who perform this service for free could use the support of a full-service animal shelter.
“Many of us have been doing TNR on a volunteer basis for 20 years, and we are burnt out,” she said. “The money comes out of our own pocket.”
Co-op City resident Jeanette Gonzalez, who brought her emotional support dog Bella to the rally said that hundreds of dogs and other animals belong to Co-op City residents.
The animal shelter would offer a plethora of services, said Gonzalez.
“It is not just an animal shelter, it is a low-cost spay, neuter, veterinarian, vaccine,” said Gonzalez. “It is something we need in the Bronx.”