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In the early days of the evacuations I don't think they were taking the pets. I know they can't take them to the shelters for obvious reasons. As lots of animal rescue groups have ramped up their rescue operations, they are helping to care for many of them. Not wanting to leave pets seems like a recurrent theme in the list of reasons many did not use shelters or leave their homes.

While I fully understand the reasoning behind the no pet rules, maybe we need to address the issue. The truth is, many people simply won't leave their animals and having to go back in to rescue those who won't might, in the long run, be more costly to all of us than planning in advance for a few shelters where pet owners can go. I'm not sure how to work out the problems with such shelters, but perhaps their is a way.

While I fully understand the reasoning behind the no pet rules, maybe we need to address the issue. The truth is, many people simply won't leave their animals and having to go back in to rescue those who won't might, in the long run, be more costly to all of us than planning in advance for a few shelters where pet owners can go. I'm not sure how to work out the problems with such shelters, but perhaps their is a way.

I have heard more than one official say that they will consider shelters that allow pets in the future for exactly that reason.