Advocates: JFK starts removing kittens

By David Freedlander, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | dfreedlander@am-ny.com

7:20 PM EDT, May 28, 2008

Following long negotiations with animal advocates (including the Humane Society) the Port Authority decided to stop the JFK cat neutering program and focus on the rounding up the cats with the intention of getting them off the JFK grounds and into animal shelters. (May 27, 2008)

Port Authority officials have begun the removal of stray cats from Kennedy Airport, animal rights advocates said Wednesday.

The kittens will be taken to a shelter, where, most likely, they will ultimately be put down, said Patrick Kwan of the Humane Society of New York State.

Port Authority officials did not return phone calls seeking comment, but they have maintained that the kittens interfere with the safe operation of aircraft. The authority argues that birds, which can interfere with planes, are drawn to the cat food.

Hundreds of feral cats are estimated to live at Kennedy, many of which are accidentally lost there. Animal rights advocates have pushed for the airport to neuter the cats rather than attempt to round them up, which they maintain is more humane and effective.

A noontime rally in front of the Port Authority's headquarters at Park Avenue and East 18th Street is planned for next Tuesday

The Humane Society recommended that people interested in learning more or helping with their neutering program contact the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals at www.animalalliancenyc.org