Residents urge restoration of TNR program and improvements at Hempstead animal shelter; privatization debate raised

Diane Madden, a Hempstead resident, urged the Town of Hempstead Town Board on March 11 to restore the town's trap-neuter-return (TNR) program to full capacity and to consider staffing changes at the town animal shelter.

Madden said she visited the shelter and observed a cat there that had just delivered a large litter of kittens. She told the board that cutting back the TNR program "is only going to delay a bigger expense when those kittens start coming in" and urged the town to "bring in experts" and consider converting outstanding part-time shelter employees to full-time roles. She suggested a full-time veterinarian would reduce "astronomical contracted fees." Madden also said she had previously supported bold decisions by the supervisor but asked the board to "fix that animal shelter."

A later speaker, Rosario of Thrush Avenue, protested the idea of privatizing the shelter. Rosario said, "the notion that the town of Hempstead, the animal shelter should be privatized is ridiculous," adding that a private corporation would not necessarily be more accountable than elected officials.

The meeting transcript shows these comments as public requests and opinions; the board did not take a formal vote or announce specific staffing or privatization actions during the March 11 session.