By DEBBIE ROSEN
Hundreds of stray cats, otherwise known as feral felines, have taken to the streets of Island Park. At night, the cats come out of their hiding places, make noise and create hazardous conditions for drivers.
In order to keep the population at bay, women with a will, not only to save but to control the cat population, are asking the community to rally round in an all-out effort to keep what they feel is a cat-astrophic situation from becoming even worse.
"It's a crisis situation," said Michelle Khoury, one of Island Park's volunteers for Animal Lifeline, a not-for-profit organization founded 30 years ago. "We need a major all-out campaign to help raise funds for neutering and spaying of the cats. We don't want them euthenized. We just want to stop the population from continuing to grow."
Ms. Khoury said five people in the village, known as the Cat Patrol, trap the stray cats, bring them to veterinarians for neutering and spaying, and then release them where they were found. But, their efforts hardly make a dent in what she said is a population of hundreds. And funds are running out. Animal Lifeline volunteers work from their homes and use their own phones, donating their time to a situation they describe as out of control.
Delores Hofman is an Island Park resident and the president of Animal Lifeline for nearly 20 years. She and Ms. Khoury met by chance one day when Ms. Hofman knocked on Khoury's door to inquire about a cat on the doorstep. What began as a simple conversation about overpopulation became a quest to bring to the forefront the intense need for assistance.
"We have already neutered around 40 cats in Island Park," said Ms. Hofman. "Resources dwindle with these kind of numbers. One pregnant cat can create hundreds more cats. We need funds to have the spaying and neutering, volunteers to help trap them, disinfect the traps, and launder towels which line the traps," she added. "We also need people to adopt cats."
Some Island Park residents have made feeding the cats part of their daily routine. "Many of them are elderly and come out at night when they know the cats are around," Ms. Khoury said. "These people can't afford to provide financial assistance to have them neutered and spayed," she said.
"I feed the cats because I have compassion for all of God's creatures and they need caring, too" said Stephanie Georges, an Island Park resident who teaches in Freeport.
But Ms. Georges realizes the need for help is at an extreme level. "What we need is more responsible people," she said. "People need to take responsibility for their own cats and have their cats taken care of. The people of Island Park need to come together on this," she said.
According to the Nassau County Department of Health, the high population does not pose a health risk to residents. "There is no health risk we are aware of," said Cynthia Brown, spokesperson for the county.
Ms. Hofman agreed. "Cats are free of disease and there should be no fear on the part of the public for contracting anything," she said.
The question remains... why are there so many cats in Island Park. According to Ms. Brown, feeding them may just keep them around. "If I stayed at a four star restaurant and hotel, I'm not sure I'd want to leave,"she said.
Yet, Ms. Brown indicated that stray cats will "make it on their own" and said the county recommends residents should only feed their own cats.
However, whether the cats in Island Park are fed by residents or not, the population boom needs to be addressed, residents said. Ms. Hofman and Ms. Khoury are asking everyone in the Village of Island Park to help out in any way possible. So far, two angels have appeared.
The Animal Hospital of South Nassau Communities Hospital (SNCH) in Island Park, through the efforts of Dr. Marcia Ratner, has offered to spay or neuter three cats per month for the next six months. The Sunrise Animal Hospital in Rockville Centre has also offered to help. Drs. Richard and William Seader will "fix" five male and four female cats each month. All cats to be altered must be brought in by Ms. Khoury, who is acting as the liaison. She can be reached after September 16 during the day at 889-2073. Additionally, South Nassau, located at 4417 Austin Boulevard, offers reduced rates for altering cats with a cost of $31 for males and $50 for female felines.
One way residents may chose to help Animal Lifeline's call for help is by participating in the Animal Lifeline Auction Fundraiser on October 15 at Katie Daly's Restaurant on Merrick Road in Massepequa. Ms. Hofman is asking for help from merchants in Island Park to donate new or like new vases, bric-a-brac, paintings, or gift certificates. To either donate items or attend the fundraiser call 631-842-2724. Another option for community residents in Island Park is to mail a donation to Animal Lifeline, PO Box 1034, Bellmore, New York 11710. Animal Life line is registered by New York State and all donations are tax deductible.
