Squid: Give the Guy a Break

I would like to follow up on the Squid’s jabs about Danny Bakewell, Jr. [Squid, Dec. 2-8]. I am one citizen who would like to thank Danny Bakewell, Jr. for all he has done to help make life a little more pleasant for some not so fortunate residents of the Monterey Peninsula. He, like many other outstanding citizens of the Peninsula, takes time to give of themselves and their money to make sure the senior residents of Villa Del Monte had a nice Thanksgiving dinner, some less fortunate kids at the Boys & Girls Club have toys for Christmas, and the championship football team at Seaside High get rewarded for their efforts on and off the field.

So many people on our beautiful Monterey Peninsula give of themselves in this manner and I am so proud that I have the privilege of living here and being the beneficiary of some of these kind acts.  

As to the affordable housing situation on the Monterey Peninsula, I wish Squid would issue the same challenge to all of the builders and developers on this Peninsula. There are some mighty expensive houses being built elsewhere on the Peninsula, and I don’t hear anyone criticizing those builders or developers. Why discriminate? Spread the cynicism around evenly.

Helen Rucker | Seaside

Squid: ‘Give Ortega Credit’

Possibly just bad eggnog or a pinched tentacle, but give Ortega credit—at least he made the collar…and let it go [Squid, Dec. 2-8]. “Slashing cops” as part of his job description was a cheap shot as well.

Now I’m no defender of Ortega, but the poor guy is probably saying “Damned if you do and damned if you don’t” after reading last week’s Squidfry. Possibly following Grandpa’s sage advice to “keep chewing” and not typing would have been more printworthy.

Dave Ross | near King City

Pound Workers Are Not Jailers

I would like to thank Catrina Coyle for her article addressing the pet overpopulation problem in Monterey County [“Heart of Fur,” Dec. 2-8]. I would also like to take this opportunity to comment on the term “shelter prison” that was used in the article.

This terminology casts a shadow over the caring individuals who work at the animal shelters. Monterey County is blessed to have four outstanding shelters (SPCA of Monterey County, City of Salinas Animal Shelter, Monterey County Animal Shelter, and the City of Marina Animal Shelter). Each of these facilities is staffed by exceptional people. They are faced with unthinkable odds, they are witness to unimaginable neglect and cruelty, and they fall in love every day with the cats and dogs they are working to find homes for.

To call a shelter a “prison” is calling the workers “prison guards” which they are not. Prison guards are hired to keep the prisoners in. A shelter workers’ goal is to get as many animals as possible out.

The shelter workers are the people who alert Animal Friends Rescue Project to the animals in the most need. Without their cooperation and diligence we could not save the lives of as many animals as we do.

To give accolades to AFRP, one must also give accolades to our local animal shelters in the same breath!

Carie Broecker | Monterey

Editors’ Note: Carrie Broecker is the Executive Director of the Animal Friends Rescue Project. The term “shelter prison” was used to remind readers that animals in shelters live in cages, and are often on a kind of Death Row. The article was in no way intended to disparage shelter workers.