I really feel bad for all the pets that needed to be left back when people evacuated from New Orleans If you want to help, go to www.noahswish.org I was watching Oprah and there was this family who needed to leave their dog and it was really really sad...
No one should have to leave there pet behind. I wouldn't evacuate if it ment I had to part with my dog. Shes my friend, I would never leave her to die just so I could have a warm bed or some food.
i bet a lot of people who left their pets behind locked them inside the house, with no way to escape the rising flood waters. that just seems so cruel. at least give the animals an opportunity to run off to safer ground, you know? animals are pretty hip to things like that.
It's such a shocking thing that pets are considered disposable in cases like these. It seems to me that 'authorities' feel that pets are just kept for the good times, and not the rough (cases like these). I hate to say it, but if they're seen as a liability by such rescue operations, why not ditch the already-sick, and elderly, etc. I can't see where the 'authorites' are coming from with this 'no pet' thing. Pet owners love their animals, how can you give them such a lose-lose ultimatum.
the media images here at the moment are of the army going in on boats and shots of dogs tied up on verandahs and stuff...the voiceover says something like that the only living things here now are starving pets...as though that is ok. I know that there are people still missing and being rescued but you know these images make me so very much realise why people should not be allowed to have pets...it is breaking my heart to see how people treat other living creatures...sure you could not take them with you, there was a shot of a little white poodly dog scratching at the bus door as it's owners went off....just makes me think that I do hope that all those people who left their animals behind think twice before they get another pet in the future...
I would not leave my dog or cat in those kind of circumstances. If we die (my pets and I), we die together. Pets need to be included in rescue operations...as one person I talked to recently pointed out, some folks have allergies to pets and can't be around them. Well then, have adequate amounts of both of pet and no pet transportation for the evacuation...they would have to shoot me to get me to leave my furry friends behind...
i could never leave my animals like that. but to alot of people, they are just "pets" and are fun untill they are no longer convienent. pppft. its breaking my heart seeing the animals left alone on tv. i wish i could go down there with a boat and pick them all up and take them home. i already have a plan worked out for me and the animals in case of a tornado.
There are some shelters here in atlanta that are taking in pets that were left behind in Katrina...both trying to reconnect them to their owners, and trying to get the ones that were truly abandoned new homes...the shelters are filling up fast, I hear...if I had room for one more, I'd certainly take another puppy or kitty, but, alas, two furballs is all this domain can handle...
if that was my house it happened to i would not leave my animals behind, i got really bad goosebumbs reading this !!!!!! them poor animals
on todays oprah i was crying -again- cuz this guy was seperated from his dog and then they found him and everyone was so happy...it made me cry
Umm...do you guys even pay any attention to what's actually happening down in LA and Miss.? There's barely resources to help the 100s of thousands of men,women,children,sick people, and elderly...and you actually want everyone to waste time and resources to save dogs and cats? Are you serious? I love my cats and dogs but if disastor struck...I would NEVER risk the lives and well-being of my children and other family members to include my animals...they are on their own. If there is a limited amount of money and rescue workers...they should be concentrating on helping the people. But I realize that most of you would rather see children die of dehydration then see a dog stranded on a rooftop.
there is no rule anywhere that says we can't feel sorry for or compassion for other creatures apart from humans that are affected by this sort of tragedy...and nobody said they didn't feel sorry for people so thats a bit uncalled for. If you take on the responsibility of a pet this is something you should think about...responsibility for a domesticated animal does not suddenly dissipate when the circumstances change and if more people thought about that before they took on such responsibilities you would see less sad images of creatures abandoned and starving. The idea that it is ok for you to have a pet in the good times but when the going gets tough you wll abandon it to look after itself does not really sound very loving to me. by the way I haven't actually seen any images of children dying of dehydration (except in thirld world countries suffering drought) but I have seen an awful lot of images of abandoned animals tied up and left to die...
i would make the officers shoot me before i left my dog, i would kick them in the nuts time and time again till they fucked off or let me take the dog or killed me, i would NEVER EVER EVER leave my dog behind. she is my daughter to me and life would not be worth living knowing i had left her to die in such a miserable state. she depends way too much on my family to just leave her like that, she would cry herself to death well before she ever starved
I had a full post written up last night re. Otter's statement, but the computer wouldn't deliver it...I'll say this in short...pretty ballsy of you Otter to say that we would rather see a kid dehydrate on a rooftop...and so far from the truth. I cried buckets when I saw what happened to the PEOPLE on the Gulf Coast, and buckets when I saw what was happening to the animals. There are many victims here, and as much as possible, all of their needs must be met. Here in Atlanta, there are search missions to reunite people with their human families, AND with their pets. The humane society is trying to place animals who where truly abandoned by their families with new families. It ALL needs to happen. And, I agree with Stephaniesomehwere, and Dangermoose...I could not leave my pets in these circumstances. IMO, it is a lack of conscience to decide that, if there were a disaster, the pets have to be left behind. What kind of love is that? Animals give such unconditional love and devotion...the least (and most) they deserve is regard for their needs in ALL circumstances. Shit happens, I know, and I have seen stories on the news of people who were unwillingly separated from pets (and people), and are struggling to reconnect. It is a hard circumstance for all, and my heart goes out to all of the living beings who have to endure this tragedy.
I too agree with Stephaniesomewhere and dangermoose, and Sus too! By keeping pets, you don't just keep pets as an ornament, or something similar. You bring an animal into your home to become a loving member of your family. I'm not saying that everyone who has abandoned their pet has done it by choice - because as far as i know they haven't had that choice. But when we make it the 'default' mindset that people come before animals, i get peeved off! By keeping pets, we bring them into a human lifestyle which involves such rare events as mass evacuation. Yet they suffer the consequences of a lifestyle they did not necessarily ask for. In a way, we've put them in the situation where they're stranded in sub-standard living conditions when a disaster hits. I can't really explain what i mean.. but.. kinda.. it's the same situation as having kids! You shouldn't have children if you can't do the best you can to give them everything they need (including protection, a safe home environment), same with pets. rant end
"Mans Best Friend" means just that. You wouldn't leave your human best friend up on that roof so why would you leave your furry best friend? I would never leave my dogs to die. Animals are not just "disposable" creatures. I am not saying that they are more important than people but I know my dogs would protect me with their lives and I would give them that same respect.
