Saving the Raccoons


Thank you for including the SPCA’s voice in last week’s article (“Cute or Evil: A quest for raccoon truth,” July 28-Aug. 3). Unfortunately, the article left many of your readers believing SPCA’s Humane Wildlife Services simply euthanizes wild animals removed from people’s garages or attics. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The SPCA uses humane methods to remove healthy urban wildlife from homes and fixes the property to prevent re-entry. Injured or ill animals are taken to the SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on the Monterey-Salinas Highway and cared for until they can be released. Those animals too ill or too badly injured to live again in the wild are provided the most humane outcome, euthanasia by injection. 


We first assure that all raccoons are out of the building, either by using humane deterrents such as one-way exit doors, or by physically removing them. Once removed, the point or points of entry are repaired so they can’t be breached. To assure the best outcome for communities, homeowners and raccoons alike, our preference is to release them near the site they came from after repairs are made. 


Our Humane Wildlife Services Technicians are experts trained in humane wildlife control and removal. They focus on preventing undue stress or injury to the animals while making professional repairs to your property to prevent similar problems in the future.


SPCA Humane Wildlife Services protects animals, helps people, and the fees charged support our humane programs for wildlife, people and pets. When you call us, rest assured that your issues with urban wildlife will be resolved. -Gary W. Tiscornia, Executive Director of SPCA for Monterey County | Monterey


Sex Stupidity


Shame on you for putting the sex in Monterey photo on the cover – especially with all the visitors on the Peninsula this weekend (“Tricks of the Trade,” July 21-27). I always tell people to check out your magazine; however, this weekend, I just wanted to remove them from all the stands and throw them away. -Anonymous | Pacific Grove


Rubbed the Wrong Way


Thanks for an interesting and important story (“Tricks of the Trade,” July 21-27). I was surprised, however, that you did not discuss the “massage brothels” that seem to be multiplying around Monterey these days. There are at least four such establishments within a 5-minute walk of my New Monterey office. (Please refer to the Weekly’s Personals page for a partial list.) I’m particularly intrigued by what the City of Monterey’s take on these businesses might be, and hope you will follow up by reporting on this soon. -orenfrey | via Web


Editor’s Note: Weekly Web Coordinator Joel Ede produced a report on his visit to a questionable Salinas massage parlor: www.mcweekly.com/thecircuit.


The Regulator


I agree with the comment about the massage brothels. Apparently nobody is paying attention to all these places and they are totally unregulated. I sent an inquiry to the City Council asking about the regulation of these places and I never received a response. Later, at a council meeting, this subject came up and they said that these places bring revenue to the city, but there was no response as to which agency regulates them. I mentioned also how a few years back S.F. cracked down on hundreds of these [places]. Bottom line, they need to be regulated and monitored by local law enforcement. They should not operate after 10pm. - Monty249 | via Web


Deep Water


Actually, [Department of Fish and Game spokeswoman] Jordan Traverso, your agency does have absolute control over when fishermen come and go (“Long-time local fishing family hopes to memorialize those lost at sea,” July 28-Aug. 31). The fishermen’s limits are set on a weekly basis and are not switchable from week to another. If a fisherman doesn’t catch his quota for a certain week, that allocation of fish is lost forever to the fisherman. This system virtually forces fishermen to take chances, because none can afford to pass up any week’s income since most are living hand to mouth these days anyways. It must be nice to have a cush government job like you do, one where you never have to worry about where your next paycheck is coming from. - theopneustic | via Web