SHE VOTES “NEIGH”… As the city of Pacific Grove figures out how to end its PERS contract, recruit a new city manager and squeeze water from concrete, freshly minted Councilwoman Carmelita Garcia is starting her term with a whinny. On the heels of her Dec. 3 swearing-in, she asked City Attorney David Laredo to expand residents’ rights to keep chickens, ponies and monkeys.

In mid-November the council granted Pagrovian Olga Perry a permit to keep her beloved hens Gray, Zippy and Bonk– thanks in part to the enthusiastic letters of support friends submitted on the birds’ behalf. But then Councilman Scott Miller raised the question of whether the city code actually allows chickens. (Party plopper.)

Soon after ascending the dais, Garcia flexed her new power by directing Laredo to revise the code “to clearly state that chickens are allowed.” And another thing: “to allow for other animals to be afforded the same benefits as service dogs.”

Word has it Garcia would like for a local doctor’s helper miniature pony (which, Squid’s birdie reports, produces “the cutest pony poop you have ever seen”) to gain the same clearance service dogs enjoy. Squid likes the idea: Mini-pony on the bus. Mini-pony at the library. Mini-pony at the pool.

Laredo isn’t sure about the pony detail, but he does recall some discussion about helper monkeys, which Squid might like even more than the mini-pony. Helper monkey can be Squid’s new BFF.

Both code revisions will come back to the council in 2009. Squid can’t wait to sit through the hours of public comment.

CHrISTMAS MIRACLE… More crazy times in the animal kingdom along the coast– this time, a potentially tragic accident found a happy ending.

Squid tipsters saw two wolf puppies bolt into Lighthouse Avenue traffic after escaping their pen at H-I Monterey Hostel in New Monterey. As suddenly as they appeared, one was crumpled by a car.

Squid would’ve immediately adjourned to nearby Segovia’s to initiate the wake. Fortunately, there were Samaritans with more vertebrae on hand.

One grabbed the injured dog and ran her down to the veterinary hospital two blocks away. Another wrote a $100 check to help pay for the $1,100 surgery; still another set up an online appeal for help.

Meanwhile the vet told the snow-white wolf’s owner, hostel manager Aaron Ely, that after getting rolled over, the crushed leg would likely be lost. Only the X-rays revealed no break– Jade would only need to receive some stitches and contend with a mean, albeit temporary, limp. The vet called Jade a miracle dog. Squid calls it a Christmukkah miracle– and applauds the rescuers for showing the true meaning of puppy love.