Posted on 04/17/2006 7:08:50 PM PDT by mom4kittys
Dozens of Louisiana citizens and their pets marched on an empty capitol Monday with a clear message: if citizens have to evacuate then their pets should be able to go as well.
“They were told they couldn't get on the busses with their pets. Pets either had to be left or they couldn't get on the bus and we said that has got to change,” said SPCA spokesperson Laura Maloney.
Many attending the march claimed Katrina victims were forced to choose between survival and their companion animals. They hoped to convey their message before a senate judiciary committee reviews a proposed bill that would require the state and parishes to develop a string of plans to accommodate pets during evacuations.
The measure also includes a requirement that disabled people, such as the blind, be allowed to evacuate with their seeing-eye dogs and would force the state to identify suitable animal shelters near shelters expected to house evacuated people.
Some said animals were taken from children’s arms as they boarded buses and abandoned on the streets at rescue points while their owners walked miles through flood waters.
Richard O’Connor stayed during Katrina to be with his nine cats and said he would never leave them again. He said in August of 2002 his apartment building on Magazine suffered heavy damage in a huge fire and he lost everything, including his 18 cats that huddled together from smoke inhalation.
“I feel very bad I think that’s terrible people don’t take their pets; no matter what you know just take them. People say they don’t have room in the car, but you can always put an animal in the car,” said O’Connor.
O’Connor said he left the city after Katrina only because a friend sheltered him and his family of cats.
Patricia Konie had a similar story. She said law enforcement physically forced her out of her Magazine Street home after the storm. She had stayed for her pets Maggie and Sasha.
"The police told me come on you’re going to go and I said no I am not going and I want you out of my house,” said Konie.
Konie said she was taken to the airport and had to throw a fit until her two dogs were allowed on the plane with her.
“They acted as good as gold, my little one laid on the floor and my big one sat in the other seat,” she said.
Some have said that leaving with animals would not only save their four-legged-friends, but also the lives of people and their rescuers who would otherwise stay behind.
Sentor Heulette "Clo" Fontenot said he decided to sponsor the legislation after hearing stories about blind people evacuating during the 2005 hurricanes who were being forced to surrender their guide dogs, then being sent to a shelter without those companions.
Other people, he said, refused to evacuate because it would have meant leaving their animals behind.
Currently, pets are not allowed in Red Cross shelters and some private hotels and motels.
Some emergency managers have said they are considered a danger and burden on the emergency system.
Yes and that's waht any rational person would do!
Having 100k stray hungry dogs running loose isn't exactly a great idea, either. :P
My dogs don't need a plan to evacuate. That's why we feed them dry dog food.....
"Which do you think is the wiser choice?"
Option 3: People with a brain realizing that if they can't get out on their own with their pets, they need to follow the rules established for humans.
"No one is going to make me evacuate and leave my critters behind. Period."
Fine. But accept the consequences of your decisions. Don't expect rule changes to benefit you and hurt everyone else.
"Or 75 people, with 25 animals sitting on laps and no loss of spots for humans."
If you think every animal will fit on someone's lap you are delusional.
How about stupid people shouldn't own animals?
Don't expect someone to choose between a human life and your pet's life in an evacuation. You can forego that situation by advance planning and self-evacuating your household.
Smart girl! Too bad more people can't take care of themselves... let alone their animals.
Disabled, blind using working animals should receive special exemption as these animals are akin to a 'prosthetic' for their missing sense of sight or other ability.
Meowmeow's family, who lives close to the DC Beltway, has bags packed for all two and 4 legged family members. We are ready to go and don't want no stinkin' hep from the government in the event of an emergency.
Whats next $2000.00 debit cards for every gold fish you can register. We have truly lost our grip on the important.
As Ghandi once said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." I think it says much about our resources and capabilities when we even consider adopting animals plans for disaster situations. Not many other nations have such resource, luxury or fortitude. It's another example of why this country is a great nation.
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