Spring arrived in New York City almost unnoticed amid empty streets and shuttered restaurants. But the ecosystem of the city stops for no virus. Buds still bloom along brownstone-lined blocks and kitten season is still upon us, marking the yearly arrival of thousands of stray newborns in New York. With the ASPCA and the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) offering only emergency services due to Covid-19, smaller volunteer-run rescue groups find themselves knee-deep in cats.
Instagram, surprisingly, has been a huge help – the platform has drastically changed the way rescue groups operate. Flatbush Cats, with 130,000 followers and an active YouTube channel, and Little Wanderers, with 68,300 followers, are among the most successful in crowdsourcing rescue efforts. With tear-jerking posts, heartfelt requests and calls for donations, the organizations are able to gain funding and find transportation to vet appointments as well as foster and permanent homes for rescues.
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