KittyCorner Update

In our last Mewsletter we told you about our fight to keep KittyCorner going here in the village of Liverpool, and your support was overwhelming, heartwarming and very humbling. At the Planning Board meeting on September 25, more than 100 people came out in support! Many spoke, and many others wanted to, but the “public hearing” part was very limited. There were a few humorous moments. One of the board members asked “what is you become very successful and want to expand?” How clueless can you get? Success for us means we go out of business! I was so stunned, it took me a minute to formulate that answer, and in the meantime, our friend and volunteer. Melissa, answered for me. “We promise we won’t open a super center!”

The only people who spoke against us were a couple who had no idea about what was actually going on. The wife spoke first, admitting that she only knew what she read in the newspaper, but that she understood there were “odors.” Those in attendance were quick to point out that it was a different organization the newspaper was talking about; not KittyCorner. Then her husband, who said he had been on the planning board for 20 years previously accused us of purposely buying in a “residential area” to avoid paying more for a business property. He then went on to tell some of our friends that if they “really cared,” they would “buy us a property in the business district.” Hmmm. I don’t know about this guy’s friends, but they are obviously in a higher income bracket than ours! I also wish I’d had the opportunity to point out that it never would have occurred to us to be
that deceptive. That it seemed so obvious to him was quite a reflection on his way of thinking, however.

It wasn’t until talking to our new attorney, a zoning expert, that we figured out what it is that they don’t understand. He asked us if, given a choice, wouldn’t we rather do this from someplace other than our home. The answer is an empahtic NO! These are destined to be family pets; housecats. And the natural habitat for a housecat is a house. To put it more plainly, we have to live with them so that we can give them the kind of nurturing they need and get to know them as individuals, and they need to live in a home to learn good house manners. Some of them need laps to sit on and people to sleep with, and though there isn’t time to give them all the love and attention they need, they aren’t “products” to be put on a shelf and locked up and left alone all night either. They have physical, emotional and social needs that can only be met by a family, and until the right family comes along, we’re the next best thing.

The frustrating part of the battle has been the question “Do we want a business in a residential area.” A more appropriate way to frame the argument is “Do we want a house that hasn’t changed substantially since 1939 in a residential area?” This is an especially ironic situation because our house is the only residence on our side of the block. We are between a funeral home and a museum. Of 16 properties on our block, only 6 are residenc es, the rest are businesses, or are village property. What we do is perfectly appropriate for the property and the neighborhood, and we now have the signatures on a petition to prove it.

That has been one of the nicer side effects of the whole thing. Debbie Barron, another friend and volunteer, took a petition around the neighborhood. Though a few people chose not to sign for privacy reasons—probably wise in a small town where everyone knows everyone else—everyone she spoke with was very supportive. Many didn’t even know we were here. Others knew and had no objections. Our closest neighbors (whom we had never even met, both came to the meeting and spoke on our behalf.

After the meeting on September 25, they had 62 days to give us a decision. They could grant the permit or deny it. If they denied it, we weren’t sure what would happen. Our attorney told us that they could get a court order to force us to stop taking in and adopting out cats. In our case, it would mean moving. After all, if homes were readily available, the cats wouldn’t be here in the first place! After speaking with the village attorney, it became apparent that they really couldn’t give us the permit because, the way the law is written, you are only allowed to do certain things in your home. You can have a church, a school, a daycare, or a home occupation. That’s all. Since we don’t fit the “home occupation” thing, we can’t do it.

Our attorney, who specializes in zoning issues, advised us that the best course would be to withdraw our application for the permit. Liverpool is in the process of developing a “Comprehensive Plan” for the village, and that will likely include some zoning changes. He feels that the village may be willing to work with us and include some sort of provision that would allow us to stay. We aren’t sure, ourselves, what he has in mind, or what they would accept. A law requiring rescuers to register and be inspected from time to time would be a sensible option, and it would have prevented the recent tragedies in Cortland and Liverpool where “rescuers” became hoarders.
The Planning Board accepted the withdrawal, but with the caveat that we are now in violation of the zoning law. They could take action against us for that, but it would be pretty unreasonable when they know we are willing to work with them.

We believe it was the overwhelming support from our friends, and the public as a whole that made the difference. There were so many wonderful letters in the Post Standard, an amazing editorial in the Review, an editorial cartoon that we’re still laughing about and, of course, the continuing coverage by Ngoc Huynh. It isn’t over yet, and it could be a long time before it is, but we feel hopeful for an outcome that will help not only us, but others who truly have a heart for animals.

Support KittyCorner, Come to the Meeting 9/25

The next planning board meeting where KittyCorner's fate will be decided will be held on 9/25 at 7pm at the Liverpool Village Hall, 310 Sycamore St.

Please come and show the planning bored how much KittyCorner means to you!

Email Linda Young.
Email Deb Young.

Kitty Corner & GCNY Under Attack

If you haven't heard already, the village of liverpool is stirring up trouble for KittyCorner and another local rescue organization.

Here is the original article that broke the news about the controversy:

Two small organizations violate Liverpool laws

Greyhounds of Central New York Inc. and Kitty Corner of Central New York Inc., both nonprofit organizations which help animals, are in violation of Liverpool's zoning laws, village officials said.

Jonna Skehan, president of GCNY, runs her organization from her home, at 305 Third St. Skehan's property is zoned as an R-1. Linda Young and her sister, Deborah Young, operate Kitty Corner out of their home, 306 Second St. The Youngs' property is zoned as an R-2.

In June, both Skehan and the Youngs received a letter from code enforcement office saying they are violating zoning laws because they are running a home-based occupation in a residential area without a license.

All three women were puzzled because they have been running the organizations in their homes for many years without problems from the village, Linda Young said.

She said she has been taking in stray cats and kittens and finding them a proper home for nine years now. Skehan said she has been caring for injured greyhounds and putting them up for adoption for 15 years.

Linda Young said she and Skehan applied for a special permit. During a planning board meeting last week, Linda Young said the board seemed reluctant to grant the permit.

Planning board Chairman Joe Ostuni said an R-2 area can operate a professional home-based occupation like a doctor, lawyer or attorney. However, he said kennels are not allowed.

Ostuni said the definition of a kennel under village law states a structure to accommodate the commercial boarding, sale or care of dogs, cats and other domestic animals or the harboring of more than four dogs, each being over 6 months of age.

Because both homes are located within county roads, the board will be sending the matter to county planning department.

Ngoc Huynh

Here is another article about KittyCorner, published in the Post Standard: Dog, cat rescuers trouble neighbors

If you would like to call or write, here are the addresses of the Planning Board.  They are the ones who will decide what happens:

Joseph Ostuni, Chairman,  305 Sycamore Street, Liverpool, NY, 13088  (315) 457-3328

Peter S. Osborne, 704 Fourth St., Liverpool, NY, 13088  (315) 451-0486

Vincent Cook, 609 Birch Street, Liverpool, NY, 13088  (no phone available.)

Thomas Tartaglia, 909 Oswego Street, Liverpool, NY, 13088 (315) 451-3732

John Eallonardo, 118 Iroquois Lane, Liverpool, NY 13088 (315) 457-6757

While you are at it, please also contact the members of the Board of Trustees.  They are not directly involved (yet) and we have had no problem with them, but they DO have the power to change the law.  Since the Village of Liverpool is in the Town of Salina, (and cats don't know where the borders are) they should adopt the Salina law regarding cats.  It requires cats at large to be sterilized, makes cat owners responsible for damage, but also provides a "safety net" for cat owners, who can get help with affordable spay/neuter or feline behavior problems from "authorized agencies," and KittyCorner is one of them.  It also makes TNR the preferred method of feral cat control.  This law is based on research into what works and what doesn't in controlling cats.  Liverpool's "Kennel" law was enacted in 1986, before any research was done into pet overpopulation and "nuisance" problems.  

 Mayor:  Marlene Ward (mayor@villageofliverpool.org )

Deputy Mayor:  Gary White

Trustee:  Nicholas Kochan

Trustee: Chris Terrell

Trustee:  James Rosier

To contact KittyCorner, please write us here.

More Previous news can be found here.

Born: January 28, 2004

Baby is a calico domestic short hair, born on January 28th, 2004.

Baby was part of a large (19 cat) feline family who was loved and cared for by a wonderful older woman. Recently, she unexpectedly passed away. It was her wish that her cats be brought to Kitty Corner to find new homes. Her son came to take the cats to Kitty Corner. A few of her cats were indoor/outdoor cats that her son wasn't familiar with, so he accidentally trapped some neighborhood strays who came along with her cats as well.

Baby is friendly with people, right from the start. She is very people-oriented. She craves attention, and loves being petted and snuggled. Like a baby, she wants to be the center of attention in the family.

Baby tolerates but does not like other cats. Baby can be possessive of 'her' person, and will lash out at other cats who come over when she is being petted by someone. She does not like having other cats around to compete with for the attention of her person. Because she is possessive of her person and needy for attention, she needs to be the only cat in the family.

Baby needs to be in a home without dogs.

Baby is looking for a family to give the same kind of adoration and singular devotion she wants so much to give to a family. Come meet her, and see if this sweet girl could have a place in your home.

KittyCorner has a lifetime return policy. If you adopt a cat or kitten from us and you can't keep it for any reason, we ask that you return it to us.

**All of our cats have been spayed/neutered, tested for Feline Leukemia and F.I.V., microchipped, and all shots are up-to-date. All of our cats come with our "cat-back" guarantee.**

None for now...

IGive.com will donate to your favorite charity, including KittyCorner. Registration is free, and the IGive shopping mall has hundreds of stores, including major chains where you probably shop already. If you are going to shop anyway, why not have a portion of each dollar you spend go to the charity of your choice!

Tax deductible donations can now be made through PayPal

Please use the e-mail address of kcorner@kittycorner.org to send donations through PayPal.