Feline folly

EAST SIDE ENCOUNTERS

BY ARLENE KAYATT

Piff and people vs. the ASPCA — Piff’s at home. His condition still awaiting diagnosis. He’s eating, drinking water, roaming around the house. He’s losing weight and his paw looks awful. Readers were livid after reading about Piff’s plight and his abominable treatment at the ASPCA. After being checked in for an oversized, possibly infected, paw, Piff was weighed and measured but not examined although a veterinarian was present. Piff, brought in by his owner and another relative, got there in the early afternoon and waited and waited and waited. Nobody at this humane society thought to examine his unsightly paw. After several hours, Piff and family left. The $85 fee paid on walking in was returned. Erica F, in an email, said in part, “Poor animal. That is a sad story about Piff and even sadder to hear that the ASPCA discriminates between recognized and new patients. I thought they were better than that. I am glad you brought that to the surface, Arlene.” And former Upper East Sider Judy Joy Ross, now a Portlandia, emailed that she was a “longtime supporter of the shelter system and a transplanted NYer” and was “appalled by Piff’s plight ... what a different tale for my elderly rescue chihuahua, Missi, who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. The PIXIE PROJECT adoption agency, dissuaded me from costly imaging tests, called my vet to explain that I am a senior on a fixed budget and arranged for Missi to receive free donated medications.” A far far cry from the inhumane treatment Piff got at the ASPCA. The ASPCA should be serving walk-ins in their facility as well as those who have been there before. Let’s not have a new classification for discrimination.

Primary’s on — Finally, Primary Day, Sept. 13, is upon us and the voters will speak. The last days of August saw candidates and their minions out on the street campaigning and handing out literature. The candidates in the Civil Court judicial primary in the 76th Assembly District, Sabrina Kraus and Susan Avery, are both Housing Court judges. Originally there were going to be four in the race. Another female candidate dropped out. The male candidate did not get on the ballot after a challenge from Susan Avery. Whoever wins the race will be a Civil Court Judge. No Republican opponent in November. The major contention in the race is that Sabrina Kraus has been reported out of the Manhattan Democratic Party Judicial Screening Panel, which is the process for electing judges in Manhattan, and Susan Avery was not. Hence Avery is challenging Kraus in the Primary.

Speaking of Judicial Panels — The Judicial Screening Panel for the Manhattan Democratic Party reported out 13 candidates, five of whom are East Siders — Judge David Cohen, Judge Melissa Crane, Judge Jennifer Schechter, Judge Adam Silvera, Judge Alex Tisch. Congratulations to all of the candidates.

Clueless at 12 Down — Before buying the Sunday NY Times, I check to see if the Magazine section is there. Smaller than the broadsheet, it can easily fall out. Or removed by someone who pulls it out and forgets to put it back. Will Shortz’s crossword puzzle is the first go-to. Can’t say that I complete every puzzle, but that doesn’t deter me. The temptation to access Rex Parker’s finished puzzles online is ever-present, but I forge on, most times. On a recent Sunday, the clue at 12 Down was “Subj. for an au pair, maybe.” Three letters, abbreviated. Hmm. I didn’t need Rex for that one. Had to be, “ESL.” Translated, English as a Second Language. OMG, Will. Stereotyping. Assumptions. Not you. Not The NY Times. Especially since the 8/14/16 puzzle’s theme was Moral Thinking.

Bus stop Hell — The mantra for bus riders these days is Where’s the bus stop, where’s the bus stop? No answer. The street paving projects being undertaken — if not welcome as an intrusion — are necessary as anyone who traverses the city and crosses the streets can attest. Paving requires trucks, equipment, manpower which means that streets have to be closed and buses re-routed and bus stops temporarily relocated. OK. And how does the public know where to find the new bus stop. With all the planning, preparation and resources why didn’t some body on the payroll figure out that signage was needed, in LARGE PRINT, saying where the temporary stop was re-located. Without it, you have irate, tired riders chasing buses and standing mid-street waving down buses at the old bus stop location. And then the re-routed buses, both local and limited, don’t necessarily make the usual stops, leaving riders to walk blocks on end. It’s a challenge to everyone but particularly those who use wheelchairs and walkers or have other disabilities. It’s a real pain. And for no reason. Somebody has to take responsibility.