To The Editor:
I write with little hope of resolve, more to clear my conscience and make readers aware of a situation my family encountered while visiting their city. We are staying at 1143 Washington St. in Cape May. The resident nearby has domesticated a squirrel (which she has named Rocky). This animal aggressively attacked my wife July 26 at roughly 7-7:30 a.m.
In an attempt to do the right thing, I informed the neighbor her pet squirrel attacked and bit my wife. We then called Cape May PD, which in turn dispatched Officer Krissinger (a true bright spot to the event), EMS (another positive experience) and Animal Control Officer John Queenan. This is where the experience began it’s downward spiral. (For verification, our case number is 2010-016525.)
The neighbor was uncooperative with both Officer Krissinger and the animal control officer. Essentially thumbing her nose at authority and telling both officers there are several squirrels in her back yard and good luck.
We were then informed by Queenan he was prevented by New Jersey law from doing anything. Here is a funny side bar – one of the individuals in our party is a 15-year animal control officer within the State of New Jersey. The lack of professionalism shown towards me and my family would have been easily dismissed as typical East Coast superiority complex; as the first thing Queenan stated upon arriving was it was his day off and we interrupted his fishing trip. Possibly this 25-year animal control officer needs to become a fishing boat captain as he certainly has no place in public service.
Again, forget about his unwillingness to show any desire to understand the situation from our perspective, but he too, was unwilling to acknowledge the presence of one of his own, another NJ animal control officer.
What, if any, action the city chooses to take is of little consequence as I eagerly await the end of the week never to return to Cape May.
This is fine for the safety of my family during our time in Cape May, but what about the next family, the one when we leave? Rocky again will be free to exhibit aggressive characteristics to another unsuspecting traveler.
The intent of this letter is to inform readers of this situation, so God forbid if the next victim is a child and is permanently disfigured. The city, and specifically the mayor’s office will be unable to plead ignorance.
TIM TURNER
Marietta, Ga.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
