Would You Leave Your Pet?

9/6/05 | Vanity

[maxwellp]

Watching the news on Hurrican Katrina, I've seen a few people who refused to leave their dogs because they could not bring them along to a people shelter. I thought about it and asked my husband if he would leave our two cats to fend for themselves. My husband thought about it and said "If we had young children, we would have to go and leave the cats. Well we don't have young children so I would not abandon the cats." I agreed with him. Pets are like members of your family. I simply couldn't walk out the door and leave them. Any comments from other Freepers?

[technochick99]

But I digress... I'm thinking a serious survival kit might include a means of lovingly euthanizing the pets.

Wow. Good point. There might be a situation where the pet gets seriously injured in the resulting chaos. Yikes - yet another thing to think about.

[teenyelliott]

As a temporary ward of the state, the state will make the rules.

When it comes to my pets, the nanny state can stick their rules where the sun don't shine. I'd walk if I had to.

[RightWhale]

you always have a choice

Your choice with respect to the state is to get on the bus or not. If the bus can get out, you can also get out with whatever you can carry, including pets. Walking out may be dangerous in a situation of lawlessness, but if you choose that you can do that.

[RightWhale]

So would I. I probably wouldn't get far on foot, but I don't have a lot of confidence at this late date in the Gummint's efforts in any area.

[teenyelliott]

I know. I meant generally, but I failed to make that clear.

My point was that if there is a problem of that nature, do not assume that it is just poor behavior. Go to the vet.

I realize that some animals will have that problem, but I do think most of the time it is a medical problem.

[teenyelliott]

Shoot, if anyone expects the gubmint to take care of them in an emergency, they will get exactly that. Gubmint care.

No thanks.

[technochick99]

My point was that if there is a problem of that nature, do not assume that it is just poor behavior. Go to the vet.

Point PAINFULLY taken. I had a treasured cat die from an episode of pnuemnonia and UTI hitting at the same time. My heart was ripped and shredded in less than 24 hours. I had him in an emergency vet with an oxygen tank, with it all costing around $1500. I still miss him.

[RightWhale]

Yep. Even when Civil Defense was active it was kind of like, 'here's a bucket of water, we'll get back to you when we can.' They had plans to evacuate the cities and the towns were expected to put them all up somehow, those who could manage to get to the towns on their own. After that, who knows.

[teenyelliott]

Oh boy, don't get me started on tragic pet losses. We could start a whole thread about that, and ruin my day at the same time!

Sorry you lost your kitty. I have had several who have died too early, one in particular, who still make me cry when I think about them.

[teenyelliott]

Everything the government touches turns to a steaming pile of crap. I'm not saying that some don't do the best they can, but no way can a huge bureaucracy take care of everyone.

If I were involved in some massive disaster and saw the government coming, I would run the other way as fast as I could.

It is up to each one of us to take care of ourselves and our families. That includes my pets.

[Fawn]

Judging people based on a few Internet forum comments is, frankly, stupid and asinine.

We agree there.

[Fawn]

You are assuming alot...I never said they should take priority. In my opinion this person was just too lazy, irresponsible to what she considered a problem...it was just a bunch of excuses. Nothing is easy.
And another thing---people who have animals around their growing kids, will give kids better immune systems and won't be able to use that old excuse "I'm allergic". It's healthy to have animals around kids.

[Slings and Arrows]

Try a JRT. They are the greatest dogs in the world.

[Slings and Arrows]

16 is great for that breed. Sounds like he wanted to be with you as long as he could.

[the OlLine Rebel]

You made it *clear* you condemned that poster as some kind of evil monster by your hostile remarks.

[the OlLine Rebel]

What is telling? That the "judge" is asinine?

[the OlLine Rebel]

You are very, very correct about that. I already said "don't believe the (dog) propaganda"! Dogs are harder to maintain, and they are the 1s who go out and attack people (deserved or not).

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yes, the best dog I ever had (or knew of, FTM) was a dominant bitch. But man you could trust her no matter what. She was happy at base, and a born leader (showed when she was around other dogs) as well as guardian, but never ever aggressive for no reason. She'd put a dog in his place for doing something dominant over her but when the discipline was over, it was over.

Aggression NOT = dominance.