NYC kitten rescue defends ‘NO F---ING MAGA’ adoption policy as PETA calls for it to be abolished

After posting an explicit warning that MAGA supporters, conservatives, and apolitical applicants need not apply, a New York City kitten rescue is defending its screening process against mounting criticism — including from PETA, which called on the group to scrap the ideological ban.

"Homeless animals don’t care which side of abortion you are on or whether you believe in global warming or support Palestine or Israel, or if you don’t vote at all, ever: they care if you love them and will give them a good home," PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk told Fox News Digital.

"We hope this policy, which is humancentric, is reconsidered and abolished," Newkirk said.

The dispute centers on Itty Bitty City Kitties , a Rockaway Beach-based rescue that describes itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit specializing in orphaned and neonatal kittens , feral-cat welfare and adoptions.

The organization is also listed among New York state’s registered pet rescues.

ONE OF NATION'S LARGEST CHRISTIAN FOSTER AGENCIES WILL NOT ALLOW LGBTQ COUPLES TO ADOPT CHILDREN In a social media post reviewed by Fox News Digital, the rescue laid out a series of political positions it said could disqualify prospective adopters.

"MAGA? Nope." "Conservative? Nope." "‘I’m not political’? Nice loophole.

Still nope." An accompanying image of a kitten bore the message, "NO.

F---ING.

MAGA." The post drew wider attention after Libs of TikTok posted it on X, prompting questions about whether the language represented the rescue’s actual adoption practices.

Fox News Digital contacted Itty Bitty City Kitties and asked whether an applicant could be rejected for identifying as MAGA, conservative or apolitical.

Samantha Knox, who has publicly identified herself as the director of Itty Bitty City Kitties, defended the organization’s screening approach by saying its overriding responsibility is the welfare of the animals in its care.

"As an animal welfare rescue, our primary responsibility is ensuring the animals in our care go to safe, compassionate homes," Knox told Fox News Digital.

She said the organization considers "public conduct and demonstrated values" and argued that a record of "celebrat[ing] cruelty" can raise concerns about an applicant’s suitability to care for an animal.