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Letters to the editor: Volunteer work with animals helped ease grief of husband’s death

Franklin plays Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, with a toy at the Center for Animal Health and Welfare in Williams Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Franklin plays Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, with a toy at the Center for Animal Health and Welfare in Williams Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
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Animals, volunteer work helped ease deep grief

The pandemic lockdown of 2020 led me to adopt a long-term resident from the Center for Animal Health and Welfare in Williams Township named Norton. I also started volunteering at the shelter as a dog walker. Norton died in March 2022 and we adopted another shelter dog in July, but just one month later, my husband of 20 years took his own life. Confusion and grief filled my world. I realized I could not care for a 9-month-old puppy.

In January 2024, the center launched a program where volunteers would attend weekly training classes with shelter residents taught by a professional dog trainer. I was tickled they reached out as my volunteering hours had become sporadic. This semblance of a routine and being among other volunteers and staff brought me a lot of stability. The hours I logged increased, as did my social exchanges. These exchanges centered around the dogs, not my grief. Plus, the dogs never asked that dreaded question to those who have experienced traumatic loss, “How are you?” I am writing to bring awareness to anyone feeling disconnected that animals possess a great healing power and they are always happy to see you, so perhaps you might want to adopt or volunteer.

Mary Spitzmueller

Bethlehem

America losing its humanity

What has happened to America’s humanity? We close down the U.S. Agency for International Development, putting millions of destitute people in third-world countries at risk for AIDS, polio, starvation and who knows what else. We impose foreign travel restrictions on countries with mostly nonwhite populations as foreign travel to the U.S. is already in decline over our tariff policies. We send suspected gang members to a hell-hole prison in El Salvador with no expectation of ever being able to get out (did anyone even bother to see if they were actually U.S. citizens or whether they were actually accused of a crime?). We cancel the deferred temporary protected status for tens of thousands of mostly Venezuelans, so they’re forced to go back to the politically unstable country they so desperately wanted to leave. And, if Congress does what it threatens to do and cuts back significantly on Medicaid and the food stamp program, many elderly Americans will be out on the street. Thank you, Donald Trump, for making America great again — apparently, regardless of the untold harm to those who can’t fight back.

James Villaume

Allentown

Let’s be honest: Protest was peaceful

I was at the No Kings protest June 14 in Bethlehem Township. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie’s statements about that event were, at the least, gross misrepresentations, and, at the worst, outright lies.

Mackenzie describes us as irresponsible, interfering with traffic. This wasn’t true on Saturday. There were a lot of us, we filled the sidewalks and some of the median strips peacefully, joyfully, earnestly in the pouring rain. Any slowdown of traffic was caused by drivers honking horns, mostly in agreement but some in disagreement. There was a good presence by the Bethlehem Township police. I did see the police remind protesters to step back farther from the road, twice. That is not “taking it beyond the freedom of speech. It’s getting to and leading to political violence.” The only violence at that protest was punch thrown by a counterprotester, someone on Ryan’s side of the issues.

The Morning Call and Lehigh Valley Live describe a peaceful protest. What do the Bethlehem Township police say?

My congressman told lies about me. I take this very seriously. We the people are informed, angry and ready to keep protesting. We will remain respectful and peaceful. Will Congressman Mackenzie tell the truth?

Ruthie Shleifer

Allen Township

Don’t scapegoat immigrants, who do much to help US

For decades, our country’s businesses, including our current president’s, and our political leaders welcomed, even facilitated undocumented immigrants. These immigrants are mostly reliable, hardworking people who accept lower wages, pay taxes and cannot unionize. Many of them, desperate to improve the quality of their lives, continue to take advantage of this situation.

Historically, lawmakers, mainly Democrats, seeing the increasing numbers of immigrants, recognized the need for an organized immigration policy but were always unable to achieve a majority consensus in Congress.

Donald Trump has managed to scratch our collective hate and racist scab by highlighting and sensationalizing the truly horrific crimes that a small percentage of the undocumented population committed. This helped propel him into the presidency and now we should apparently feel safer and justified by inhumanely punishing these people.

It is long past time for responsible, humane governance to correct the punitive, misguided course we are now taking.

Pat Mazza

Easton

Mackenzie was wrong: Protests were peaceful

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, referencing the June 14 No Kings protest, stated that political protests are moving beyond peaceful; they are interfering with traffic flow and public safety and can potentially lead to violence.

There’s little chance that I would ever vote for Rep. Mackenzie, but there is the possibility that I could respect him. I withdraw that respect when I read exaggerated misinformation. My wife and I participated in that protest on Cedar Crest Boulevard, standing directly in front of his office. The event was emotional, thrilling, patriotic and peaceful. We appreciated the support of our fellow protesters and from the cheers and horn blowing from so many passing vehicles. I understand Rep. Mackenzie must toe the party line to keep his job, but it’s pathetic that he strains for extra credit from his boss and base by this fabricated claim of traffic interference. The number of orderly protesters on Cedar Crest Boulevard about equaled the number of Jan. 6 rioters who were shamefully pardoned and freed by that same boss. Be reasonable, congressman.

Jim Pelc

Upper Saucon Township

The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.

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