This is incredibly sad, victims who have lost their homes and loved ones being forced to abondon their pets by rescue personnel. Is it really necessary?
let me be the first: Its George Bush's fault for not activating the federal branch of peta and the spca in time. George Bush hates animals.
They know what to do with animals.
/sarcasm>
:-( We have 7 guinea pigs. No offense to the human loss, but my wife and I, being guinea pig lovers, were also thinking about all the poor little critters who suffered in this mess.
I kind of figure those who were bring their pets along were brought dinner.
~sniff~
I wouldn't leave my Huskies, even if ordered. They keep running the clip of that lady in New Orleans who is going to be evac'd but they told her she couldn't take her dog and she was broken up about it. That just sucks.
my wife wouldn't leave our older Husky for anything either.
This is very painful ... makes me want to hug my basset.
Katrina Evacuees Distraught Over Pets
Posted by GovernmentShrinker
On News/Activism 09/03/2005 9:56:20 PM PDT · 87 replies · 1,009+ views
Guardian (UK) ^ | 9/3/05 | Mike Stobbe
ATLANTA (AP) - As Valerie Bennett was evacuated from a New Orleans hospital, rescuers told her there was no room in the boat for her dogs. She pleaded. ``I offered him my wedding ring and my mom's wedding ring,'' the 34-year-old nurse recalled Saturday. They wouldn't budge. She and her husband could bring only one item, and they already had a plastic tub containing the medicines her husband, a liver transplant recipient, needed to survive. Such emotional scenes were repeated perhaps thousands of times along the Gulf Coast last week as pet owners were forced to abandon their animals in...
This is what happens when we don't put animal life in its proper context. Yes, I have a pet. Yes, I love my pet. But if it came down to staying in a disaster area or abandoning my pet, the animal is on its own. Sorry if that sounds heartless but I can always buy/adopt another one.
Here's an idea for you, honey. Walk.
All the more reason to plan ahead. Meowmeow's kitty has her own bug-out-bag. Where we go, she goes, and it won't be to a government shelter.
Call me a ^*(@&^$@$ if you must, but some of the most heart wrenching scenes (to me) have been the loss or trauma to the animals. I feel more sorry for them than the people who had warning and means to leave. Pets depend on their owners.
Couple days ago I donated to the pet shelter Noah's Wish since they're rescuing the abandoned pets around NO. Reading this thread makes me want to donate again if it'll save even a few more pets!
I don't buy that it's necessary to leave pets behind for one second. They've got hundreds of boats and thousands of people to evacuate. Let's do the arithmetic; there's room on each boat for a few pets, and we could still get everyone out safely. But a little thinking is difficult for some bureaucrats. It's easier to say no.
I don't understand this. One lady AND her dog are rescued; next old lady has to stay or leave her dog. What is going on?
The following do tremendous work helping pets after disasters and any contribution helps.
Most of them have mobile veterinary clinics either already on site or are awaiting permission to go in. Some have tractor trailers with veterinary surgical facilities aboard.
ifaw.org
noahswish.org
spcahouston.org-taking in animals from NO shelters
nsalamerica.org
hsus.org
aspca.org
americanhumane.org
petco.com
akc.org
bestfriends.org- their website has updates on many of the humane orgs as they go into the devastation, plus info on wildlife sanctuaries and their efforts.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35312.asp has more info and links on helping the pets from Katrina.
Red Roof Inns and Motel Six will take pets.
Greta van Sistern last night had a story about an elderly lady and her dog who were finally taken out of her house in New Orleans. She evacuated on a boat and then was shown being walked to a waiting plane or bus by a cop who had her by the arm. The cop had her dog on a leash behind him. The poor fifteen year old dog who appeared to be extremely arthritic tried desperately to keep up with the pair who were walking rather quickly. Finally, the poor old fellow gave out and collapsed and fell over. The cop seemed oblivious; he just kept on walking with the dog literally being dragged along behind him on his side across the tarmac. Everyone in my house was screaming at the t.v. for the cop to stop and for someone to pick up the dog. His owner perhaps was too shell shocked to know what was going on. She paid no attention to her dog who apparently had been her companion for fifteen years. It was heartbreaking. He probably ended up being left behind.
I would have put my dogs in the our truck and been long gone at the mention that Katrina was heading our way.
If I can't take my 8 cats, no dice. I'll sleep in my Explorer if I had to.