Town of Hempstead to postpone feral cats move

Protesters’ signs jeered at the Town of Hempstead on Sunday, calling a decision to trap and move feral cats in a colony at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore “cruel” and “corrupt.”

The town had planed to move dozens of feral cats from their makeshift protected shelter behind the baseball field at the park. The move was set to begin on May 1, but following the weekend’s protest, the town has postponed the relocation.

“The Town of Hempstead is working with the Humane Society of the United States to assess the feral cat colony at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore and to explore options concerning the habitat where the cats have settled,” a town press release read.

The town will wait for the Humane Society’s assessment of the situation before making a final decision on the relocation of the cats. “The goal of the town is to ensure the health and safety of children and adults who use the park, in addition to providing for the well-being of the feral cats,” they said.