Narrows bridge

Bob Oke namesake? No thanks

Bob Oke’s widow wants to rename the Tacoma Narrows Bridge “The Bob Oke Bridge of Faith.” Sen. Derek Kilmer agrees. When I moved to Bremerton, Bob Oke was my state senator. He was opposed to homosexuality, “Hands Off Washington” and his own lesbian daughter. In a letter, Oke told me that his opposition to homosexuality was based on his “faith.”

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge belongs to all of us regardless of our sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Oke was intolerant. A bridge named after him would become a bridge of intolerance. I do not want my tax dollars to honor bigotry.

J MICHAEL SONDHEIMER

Bremerton

Pet population

Spay/neuter your cats

Feb. 26 is the 14th annual Spay Day USA, a day to encourage everyone to spay/neuter their cats, and to raise awareness of the cat overpopulation problem.

Some facts, according to Dr. Christine Wilford DVM, president of The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project in Seattle compassionate people will always feed free-roaming cats and animals in need, free-roaming cats are the number one source of kittens entering shelters; trap-neuter-return is the most effective way to prevent shelter intakes of kittens; and the number one cause of death of cats in the USA is not a disease, it is being killed in animal shelters. This is preventable! Infectious diseases are prevented with vaccines. Overpopulation is prevented through spaying and neutering.Shelters or pet stores, placing unaltered kittens and cats into homes contributes to overpopulation and death of cats in shelters. More animal organizations must concentrate on the spay/neuter of free-roaming cats! There is not enough room in shelters and sanctuaries for all the adoptable and free-roaming cats in our country.

You can do three things to help: 1. Spay/neuter all your cats. 2. Never buy or get free kittens/cats that have not been altered, whether from a friend, relative, backyard breeder or stranger. Instead, adopt an already-altered kitten/cat from Animal Rescue Families, PAWS, The Kitsap Humane Society or another responsible rescue group/shelter who alters all kittens/cats before adoption. 3. Encourage and help everyone to spay/neuter their cats.

Be part of the solution not part of the problem, help the cats, please spay/neuter.

LINDA DENNIS

Bremerton