Farmingville, NY - Supervisor Ed Romaine has announced that Last Hope Animal Rescue has received a $10,000 grant from the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust (matched in part by Last Hope) to target the epidemic number of feral cats in the Town of Brookhaven this fall. Vouchers will be issued to residents caring for feral cats inhabiting the Town by completing the mandatory agreement on the organization’s website. Cats will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped for free at four participating veterinarians. The program launches on September 5 and will cease December 15. Pictured left to right are Brookhaven Town Animal Shelter Director Christina Tormey; Last Hope Animal Rescue president Linda Stuurman and Supervisor Romaine.
Supervisor Romaine said, “I’d like to thank Last Hope Animal Rescue and the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust for their generosity. Feral cats are a growing concern in Brookhaven Town and we must do something to stem the tide. Trap-Neuter-Release is a humane method of control that works. I ask residents who care for feral cats to visit the Last Hope website and take advantage of this program.”
Founded in 1981, Last Hope is a humane organization with an Adoption Center in Wantagh, New York plus outreach programs all manned by more than 500 volunteers throughout Long Island. Striving to “repair” and re-home abandoned and stray animals, Last Hope takes dogs in need from municipal shelters on Long Island and from overcrowded Southern states, whereas cats come from many local sources of distress. In 2018, Last Hope placed close to 800 orphan cats and dogs in loving, responsible homes. Determined to reduce pet overpopulation, Last Hope aids owners undergoing hard times with free spay/neuter for their pets. They also host low cost vaccine clinics twice a year and have a program to assist pet owners undergoing financial hardship with funds for veterinary care for their dogs and cats.
Last Hope has a humane education program run by retired teachers who visit schools, churches and other facilities to acquaint students and adults with various facets of shelter rescue. The humane educators also conduct tours and talks at the Last Hope Adoption Center for scout and school groups, and mentor Eagle Scout and Girl Scout Gold Award candidates as they fulfill their project requirements.
A “Fix-A-Feral” program and free Trap/ Neuter /Return clinics make it financially possible for caretakers to spay/neuter feral cats they are feeding. The organization assists the public in trapping feral cats while making the community aware of humane alternatives to the ubiquitous feral cat problem. Two years ago, they began the free TNR voucher issue in late winter to be proactive by preventing female feral cats from becoming pregnant. Since 2003, over 20,000 cats have been altered via Last Hope’s “Fix-A-Feral” vouchers and free spay-neuter clinics. Visit Last Hope Animal Rescue for more information
Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone 631-451-6595