For Immediate Release: July 5, 2016
Contact: [email protected] or by phone at 240-482-2597, or 240-482-1980

NEW YORK July 5, 2016 Alley Cat Allies has filed a letter motion requesting permission to submit an Amicus Curiae, or “Friend of the Court,” brief in American Bird Conservancy v. Harvey, the ongoing Endangered Species Act lawsuit concerning feral cats and piping plover birds living in Jones Beach State Park in New York. The organization has put the brief before the court on the view that Alley Cat Allies as the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats is uniquely positioned to offer relevant expertise to the court on this lawsuit. The judge in the case is considering Alley Cat Allies’ request and has not yet announced a decision.

“We’ve asked to be heard on this case because if it goes forward it will be important for the court to have accurate information on cat behavior so it can assess the claims made in the lawsuit,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “We also want the court to understand the significant level of public opposition to this lawsuit and to the position advanced by the American Bird Conservancy in it, and to have the information needed to assess the many negative ramifications of taking the action the American Bird Conservancy has requested.”

The State of New York asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit on June 2, a request that the judge is also considering. As noted in a previous press release, Alley Cat Allies applauds the strong and thorough request for dismissal issued by New York State and sees the complaint as baseless and full of false assertions.

The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The original complaint filed by the American Bird Conservancy – alleges that the New York Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation is in violation of the Endangered Species Act by allowing feral cats to continue to live in Jones Beach State Park, where piping plover birds also live.

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About Alley Cat Allies

Alley Cat Allies, headquartered in Bethesda, MD, is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has more than half a million supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities and organizations save and improve the lives of millions of cats and kittens worldwide. Its website is www.alleycat.org, and Alley Cat Allies is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.