I’ve been fattening up my tabby for the WTSHTF scenario.
Yesterday’s pet can be tomorrow’s “survival food store” — “on the hoof” instead of freeze dried.
...
[JUST KIDDING! I love my kitty and I wouldn’t dream of eating her. Well, not all at once, anyhow.)
And mine never will. In a SHTF scenario, human life is paramount, and the pets are on their own. All of my effort and resources will be expended for human survivors.
/johnny
Us humans, on the other hand have tons of issues. Dehydrated food, cooking fuel, stove, water purification, hygeine products, tents, sleeping bags, first aide, sunburn, blankets, sleeping pads - the list goes on and on.
Plus, Rover and Fluffy have a god-given gift of easy regurgitation. If they find a flattened animal, they can eat it - and likely will. If the food is bad, their bodies can easily vacate their stomaches and avoid food poisoning that would be far more devastating to us. Planning on the family pet's survival is easy.
Now, as for the importance of keeping the pet; Rover is a pack animal. His loyalty is to your and your family - above his personal safety. His hearing is better than yours, he can/will alert you to strangers approaching his 'pack', he can/will defend you to the best of his ability. He can/will faithfully guard and protect you. The emotional support a loving pet gives you, especially in a traumatic event, is invaluable. Sometimes the difference between life and death, is your will to live. Anything that sustains your will to live, is a good thing.
Now, while I have a couple cats (I am a dog lover first and foremost), let's face reality; Fluffy - well, as soon as the food runs out; will likely take off on her own. It's the nature of the cat to be solitary.
If my house is being threatened by a wildfire or tornado, or something else that is moving quickly, my kids would be my top priority. I love my pets very much, and I would grieve if anything would happen to them, but I would not risk my life or the lives of my loved ones to keep them safe. But in the case of a hurricane, my pets always will be with me when I evacuate. In that case, there is time to make all the right preparations. If the hotel or shelter doesn’t take pets, there are usually shelters that will take in pets. When we evacuated for Hurricane Katrina, we took our dogs and an elderly neighbor’s dog with us. One of the hotels we stayed at did not take pets, but there was a wonderful pet shelter in the area who boarded our dogs for nothing.
Especially during those Earie Times! And don't forget the water!
Thanks for reminding me. I need to add cat food to my food storage.