In both of the selected pieces, we are introduced to two seemingly normal, average New Yorkers.  Just under the surface lays stories worth telling.  In the case of Bernie Goetz, we find an eccentric animal lover who has a history of breaking the law and seems somewhat hell-bent on continuing to do so.  What makes his story worth telling and reading is Bernie’s “personalization” of the squirrel issue. He has taken a pregnant squirrel into his home and hand feeds the four babies once they are born.  His disregard for the laws and rules of doing such a thing doesn’t bother him in the least. Bernie has gone way beyond the old guy tossing peanuts to squirrels in the park; he has made these squirrels an intricate part of his life.

Similarly, Sean Casey has made animals his life.  His story is worth being told because he is more than just an employee or volunteer at an animal rescue, he IS the rescue. Sean is  not only involved with every aspect of the shelter, he is the most important cog in the wheel of the shelter.  Sean was seemingly groomed for this line of work from an early age.  Without giving away too much personal history the author is able to paint a clear picture of what Sean is like in person with passages like, “he’s more comfortable around animals than people.”  This is much more than a story about an animal lover, this is a profile of an animal lover that has set out to do something about an issue that he personally sees as and feels to be an important one.  Sean saw there was a need and jumped in head first into the issue and is trying his hardest to make a positive difference in the lives of these forgotten animals.