NYC kitten rescue defends ‘NO F—ING MAGA’ adoption policy as PETA calls for it to be abolished, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nyc-kitten-rescue-defends-no-f-ing-maga-adoption-policy-peta-calls-abolished)

The Fox News report centers on a controversy involving Itty Bitty City Kitties, a registered New York City animal rescue based in Rockaway Beach, after the organization implemented a political screening policy for kitten adoptions.

• The Adoption Ban: The rescue posted on social media explicitly stating that supporters of Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, conservatives, and even people who claim they are “not political” are disqualified from adopting kittens. The post included an image of a kitten alongside the phrase “NO. F—ING. MAGA.”

• Viral Attention: The policy gained widespread public attention and backlash after it was highlighted on X by the account Libs of TikTok.

• The Rescue’s Defense: Samantha Knox, the director of Itty Bitty City Kitties, defended the policy in statements to Fox News Digital. She argued that alignment with certain political movements is tied to systemic cruelty and policies that cause harm or displacement, asserting that the rescue considers empathy, ethics, and social views when vetting potential adopters to ensure animal welfare.

• Pushback from PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) publicly criticized the rescue and called for the policy to be abolished. PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk told Fox News Digital that homeless animals do not care about human politics, voting records, or stances on social and global issues, emphasizing that the only priority should be whether an adopter will provide a loving, safe, and responsible home.