New Orlean's ads before the storm were telling people if they evacuated and left their pets behind, they would be prosecuted for animal abandonment if appropriate arrangements were not made. Talk about discouraging people from leaving!
Thats strange because on the city website they tell you how to leave your pets..:
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=24
Protecting your pets
It's important to include your pet in your plan of action. You will need to know what to do with your pet since they're not allowed in evacuation shelters or most hotels.
You basically have three choices: take them with you, leave them home, or find a place for them to stay.
Taking them with you, checklist
• ID collar
• Current rabies tags
• Pet carrier
• Leash
• Food & water bowls
• Food & water
• Medicines, presription or over-the-counter
• Toy
• Cat box, litter & pooper-scooper
Leaving your pet at home
• Confine your pet to a safe, high-area inside your home, away from windows and outside walls.
• Leave water in a sturdy no spill container
• Give them a three-day supply of dry food
• Post a notice outside your home listing what animals are inside and where they are located
• Never leave pets together during a disaster
• Never leave pets chained or loose outside
Places pets can stay
• At a friend's or family member's home in a safe inland area
• With you at the hotel, if the establishment allows pets
• A kennel with boarding capabilities outside the risk area
• Bring them indoors with your family if you decide not to evacuate
Do us a favor - archive their whole site.
It will be interesting to see how they change it per the CYA doctrine afterwards.
I can only tell you what was reported on another thread as it relates to ads on television in the days before the hurricane.
Oh, and I should have responded: Nowhere in what you listed does it detail that pets can be left behind.
Freepers in the area said the ads on television made it clear that anyone who abandoned animals would be charged with animal endangerment.