PETA never turns away an animal in need
Re: “Dim Bulb: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,” Feb. 16
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The animals who come through PETA’s doors — not counting the thousands we sterilize at our low-cost clinics and return to their owners — are only a tiny fraction of the estimated 6 to 8 million homeless dogs and cats who enter shelters every year. By the time these animals come to PETA, they are often beyond hope. Unlike “no kill” shelters, we never turn away an animal in need, no matter how sick, elderly or feral they are or how horrific their injuries. We don’t want these animals to suffer one second longer than they have to. Why are so many healthy dogs and cats killed in shelters nationwide? Because the very people who love dogs and cats buy animals from pet shops and breeders instead of rescuing them from shelters and let their dogs and cats breed, adding to the overpopulation crisis.
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Metro could be poster child for squandered funds
Re: “Metro contrite; service stinks,” Feb. 19
During the half year since Metro’s June 22 fatal crash, all trains have been required to go to the end of the station, leaving a very long space at the end of six-car trains. In many stations, such as Metro Center, Union Station, Dupont Circle and National Airport, millions of tourists and business travelers unfamiliar with Metro don’t know where to stand waiting for a train. The result is a dangerous — and totally unnecessary — mad rush as dozens scramble to board an already overloaded last car while the cars in front of them are relatively empty. This could easily be avoided by telling travelers to move toward the front of the train, but that would require someone at Metro to get off their overpaid rear ends. A great example of how lax Metro is when it comes to adapting to reality are signs at Reagan Airport that point to a currently fictional “start of train” signal when the train actually stops long after the sign indicates. Perhaps this is a good way to show the other 300 million Americans how we squander the trillions they send to Washington every year and what low quality service they get for their high taxes.
Jack Adams
Washington
Connolly is a big spender, not a deficit hawk
Rep. Gerry Connolly’s, D-VA, re-election campaign’s attempt to portray him as a model of fiscal responsibility is laughable and misleading. According to Project Vote Smart, this “deficit hawk” voted for the costly 2009 budget bill, the 2009 economic stimulus package, the beleaguered Cash for Clunkers program (not once but twice) and, last but not least, the House’s health care plan, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates could end up costing taxpayers more than a trillion dollars over the next decade. In December, guess who cast one of the decisive 218-214 votes when the House decided to increase the national public debt limit to $12.39 trillion? Surprise! It was Gerry Connolly, who voted with his party 97 percent of the time, the highest percentage of the three elected federal officials representing Virginia’s 11th District. He can no longer blame our country’s current out-of-control spending on the Bush administration. It would be refreshing to hear Rep. Connolly take responsibility for his spending sprees. Meanwhile, I urge every budget-conscious citizen in the 11th District to examine Connolly’s voting record, which is not in line with his deficit-control rhetoric. Not by a mile.
Robert Paine
Fairfax
