EVACUEES: Take your pets with you, PLEASE!

[seaswing]

Its not that people dont love their pets enough to take them. Im sure every family does their best to include pets in the plan. When it comes down to it and there is one hotel room left and they dont accept pets, its life or death. Save a human life. There arent enough places to stay when a cat 5 hurricane is bearing down to take a pet.

I know there is a vast difference in the way some people view a pet. To some, they are entertainment, to others they are members of the family but when they are accepted into a family and you start to care for and feed them, they rely on YOU to protect them. They are helpless to make the decisions that would most protect them, leaving them behind for a death that would be nothing short of horrendous is wrong. This is not a quiet death, it is a terrifying, devasting and sometimes slow death. It is wrong to expect them to 'fend for themselves' much like leaving a helpless child behind. IMO of course... if you love them, you will make sure you plan their evacuation just as you plan for you families. Even if it is leaving them in a shlter, far, far away from harms way. Nothing wrong with being proactive!

[Stephanie]

The buses picking up people in Galveston who have no other way off the island are allowing people to bring pets with them. They have crates for the pets and a local number for people to call if they don't have pet crates.

I saw that on the news and I think that's wonderful.

I see that someone else has posted links to different hotels that accept pets. There are options out there, fortunately.

[kurtpage]

For me not having any children, my pets are my children! This may sound odd to some people, but my dogs mean so much to me that if it came to down to it, if I had to choose between shelter without my pets or sleeping in a car with my pets, I would choose sleeping in the car! It saddens me so much to see all the pets stranded in LA.. I live in east Texas, so I see myself as lucky to not have to evacuate, but if I had to believe me, I would not leave without Raider and Red!

[arkess7]

i totally agree..PLEASE TAKE YOUR PETS... i was horrified at some of the images of new orleans where people had left there pets tied up on the porch while they evacuated ....and it made me sick to see that none of the buses would not let ANY ANIMALS on the bus..even if you could carry them.....AWFUL....thats so great to hear that the gavelston buses ALLOWED PETS....in the future more shelters and buses should allow pets...they have souls like we do ....i would never leave my dog and 3 cats......me, my husband and my 5 year old daughter would find a way to take them with us

[Stormy1]

There are two ways I look at this, neither will be popular.

Take pets if you are evac-ing by car and have the room. They will be ok at least for a while even if they have to stay in the car instead of with you in shelter. It's not a terribly practical solution but it's better than leaving them to fend for themselves.

Don't tell the hotel/motel that you have a pet. I only know of a handful of hotels that will actually fine you or remove you if you sneak a pet in. Stick the "do not disturb" sign out and do your best to be descreet.

I've tested only the latter option but by the end of our stay, housekeeping actually looked forward to visiting with our rather unquiet parrots and our dogs and they never reported us.

I would also like to mention that all pet owners should invest in pet carriers. Larger dogs can usually do well uncrated but for cats, small dogs, and birds; a carrier is a must. If the hard sided ones are not within budget, the cardboard kind can be found online and at many vet's offices.

[Stephanie]

For me not having any children, my pets are my children! This may sound odd to some people, but my dogs mean so much to me that if it came to down to it, if I had to choose between shelter without my pets or sleeping in a car with my pets, I would choose sleeping in the car! It saddens me so much to see all the pets stranded in LA.. I live in east Texas, so I see myself as lucky to not have to evacuate, but if I had to believe me, I would not leave without Raider and Red!

I don't have any "human" children either. I know EXACTLY how you feel and so do many other members.

[opera ghost]

We planned our evacuation around the fact that I will not leave my siamese behind... He's sitting next to me on this inflatable bed, chilling out. We left early so we would be certain to have a place to put him... at a relitives house who's cool with pets.

If we didn't have a relitive, we'd find a friend. If we couldn't find a friend- we'd get a hotel. If we couldn't get a hotel, we'd just. drive. further. until there WAS a place for him.

The nearest pet friendly hotel is in Arizona? It's going to be a long drive- but Sebastian is worth it.

[NFLnut]

I am NOT an animal rights wacko, and I love to eat cow! I also think that human life is FAR more precious than that of any animal.

Having said that, I wouldn't go ANYWHERE without my kitties! They are a BIG part of the family!

Take your pets! Seeing the images of pets left behind, it just KILLS me!!

[themusk]

I am an unrepentant species-ist who not only ate meat today, and yesterday, and every other day for as far back as I can remember what I've eaten, I'm a former hunter and NRA Life member who would be sitting in the woods in the blink of an eye if only there was a functioning local adaptive hunting program.

That said, not only do I agree we do have a responsibility towards animals we bring without their consent into our world. I have a respect for the intelligence and general cognitive capacity of many animals (including those we most often keep as pets) and a sense of an ethical obligation towards them.

There's a growing body of research that indicates we've been underestimating the capacities of many animals. They in all likelyhood have emotional capacities similar to ours, and in many cases intellectual capacities that overlap those of humans. As the owner of one of those recently-discovered-to-be-mighty-brainy species (a parrot), I've seen firsthand the calculation, manipulation, creativity, communications skills, and even the imaginative play once though possible only among humans.

It's possible to accept the soundness of the evidence for a high level of animal cognition without drawing an extremist conclusion (after all if most animals could harvest humans, they would -- that's not brutality, that's how all life perpetuates itself). Through it I have a deeper respect for my fellow creatures and an appreciation that their experience is more like my own than it is different. Empathy and ethics demand that, when reasonable, I apply the Golden Rule. I wouldn't want to be left in a hopeless situation in the face of disaster, or to be denied help when help could be offered, and so I have an obligation not to leave my brother animals in such circumstances if I can at all help it, and to offer my help to them when possible.

[seaswing]

I am an unrepentant species-ist who not only ate meat today, and yesterday, and every other day for as far back as I can remember what I've eaten, I'm a former hunter and NRA Life member who would be sitting in the woods in the blink of an eye if only there was a functioning local adaptive hunting program.

That said, not only do I agree we do have a responsibility towards animals we bring without their consent into our world. I have a respect for the intelligence and general cognitive capacity of many animals (including those we most often keep as pets) and a sense of an ethical obligation towards them.

There's a growing body of research that indicates we've been underestimating the capacities of many animals. They in all likelyhood have emotional capacities similar to ours, and in many cases intellectual capacities that overlap those of humans. As the owner of one of those recently-discovered-to-be-mighty-brainy species (a parrot), I've seen firsthand the calculation, manipulation, creativity, communications skills, and even the imaginative play once though possible only among humans.

It's possible to accept the soundness of the evidence for a high level of animal cognition without drawing an extremist conclusion (after all if most animals could harvest humans, they would -- that's not brutality, that's how all life perpetuates itself). Through it I have a deeper respect for my fellow creatures and an appreciation that their experience is more like my own than it is different. Empathy and ethics demand that, when reasonable, I apply the Golden Rule. I wouldn't want to be left in a hopeless situation in the face of disaster, or to be denied help when help could be offered, and so I have an obligation not to leave my brother animals in such circumstances if I can at all help it, and to offer my help to them when possible.

I think this is a thoughtful, honest and compassionate response. Although some consider folks like me 'extremist' I also eat meat and I also believe that hunting is a necessary part of co-existence. It is necessary to contain the balance of nature. But I am glad to see that yes, a lot of people believe they have some of the same emotions as humans and yes, I do believe they have souls. Thanks you for such a thoughtful post. It is very balanced and very true.

[seaswing]

This is an email received this morning from the veterinarian in charge of getting some of the 'animal' evacuees out of harms way of Katrina and now, Rita. From my understanding, Lamar-Dixion in Gonzalez LA was completely evacuated yesterday and we were able to get the animals out just in time.

From: Dr. Julie Levy - Uf College of Veterinary Medicine

Hello everyone:

Between 9 pm last night and 6 am this morning, 3 deliveries of animals urgently evacuated from the HSUS Lamar-Dixon shelter in Gonzales, Louisiana arrived at the CVM. Our temporary shelter was packed with 27 rabbits, 28 cats, and 10 dogs. Not to be outdone, one of the dogs delivered 8 heathy puppies shortly after arrival.

The next step is to examine each animal and to provide the necessary treatments and well-care. The HSUS was thrilled when they learned that the animals were coming to a vet school, so they sent animals that they knew needed more intensive medical care.

Today each animal will be examined, including FeLV/FIV or Heartworm tests as appropriate. The Zoo Med group and Gainesville Rabbit Rescue have teamed up to tackle the rabbit care.

We will start the exams and blood collection for the cats and dogs at 11 am today. Volunteer vets can lend a hand. However, since the animals have an unknown background, no one who is on clinic duty may handle the animals or venture into VS20. Join us in VS20 if you can make it.

Once the exams are done, we would like to match up each cat and dog with a "Pet Guardian" who will care for the animals every day through Oct 3. This will assure that each animal is closely observed and gets its own TLC. Please email me if you would like to be a pet guardian and are available daily through 10/3 and do not need to be in the VMC during that time.

Thanks!