MAILBAG: Shelters a vital part of community

Regarding “Rescues endangered,” May 22:

I enjoyed the article but think people don’t realize that the Laguna Beach shelter is a fine one but too small to be able to accommodate Laguna residents’ turn-in animals. I believe they do take strays. That makes Animal Crackers a last resort for many people, but it is so small that they cannot handle the needs of all the Laguna folks. So both groups are vital for Laguna pets and, I hope, will be supported by your citizens.

Better yet, I wish people would be more responsible for their pets. I adopted a wonderful dog from Gina Kantzabedian last year and since then, I drive once a week to your town to shop for not just pet food but groceries. I stop at the gas stations, your restaurants and pharmacies. I even bought two electric bikes in Laguna. The traffic is so slow that I try to make my time in your great little city count and do a lot of things in those hours.

Other folks I know also come down to Animal Crackers and spend money in Laguna that we would spend in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa or other towns south of you. Keeping the rescue open is so important for the pets and also brings in quite a few dollars to your merchants, veterinarians, pet sitters and City Hall in taxes. Thanks for writing the article.

HELEN EVERS

Costa Mesa

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Who’s fit to criticize ocean rescuers?

When you’re rich and live in an oceanfront mansion, I guess somehow you sense entitlement and feel you have the right to criticize from your multimillion-dollar roost (“Laguna was missing in action on rescue,” Sounding Off, May 22).

Isn’t this the same John C. Hall that’s married to Cindalee, the founder and spokeswoman for Save Main Beach, an “Astroturf” nonprofit “” i.e., one designed to benefit a select group of people?

And the mission statement of that entity? Shrink the proposed Laguna Beach marine safety headquarters down to a phone booth, threaten litigation to do so.

Part of what’s needed is a facility large enough to store modern, rapid-response infrastructure “” you know, like an inflatable boat or rigid hull with a small outboard motor.

Being on adversarial terms with our guards, I’m sure Hall won’t pick up the phone and personally get the answers for his hostile questions.

Safety personnel for emergencies need the right tools, get it? You don’t use a screwdriver to pound in a nail, or do you?

White-water rescuers are ill-equipped to make complex diving rescues. The closest boats with the right stuff are unfortunately miles away.

Did Mr. Hall think it appropriate to send our frustrated guards out there to just swim around helplessly in circles like circus seals, unable to perform an effective recovery?

And as for Laguna’s cops, they’ve proven their bravado many times over. Shame on you for demeaning them. Speaking of which, how many lives have you ever saved, John?

It’s not always about getting there first, it’s about appropriate professional response.

If you and your wife’s cronies weren’t so intent on diminishing our guards’ abilities to perform their sworn duty, maybe they’d already have a fully operational headquarters with a zodiac. So Mr. Hall, try talking to your mirror if you want answers.

ROGER VON BÃœTOW

Laguna Beach

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Another way to fight Proposition 8

Regarding you question as to what the city can do to lure visitors (Online Poll, May 22):

I think that the city should advertise in national gay magazines, both locally and abroad. I think that the city does not even consider doing that.

Laguna used to be a gay destination, which, sadly, it is not so much anymore. But many people outside of this area still consider Laguna to be that way still. There is a lot of gay and lesbian money, and many are getting married; so come back to Laguna where it all started and honeymoon (or just vacation). We are still very friendly!

JOHN BENECKE

Laguna Beach