Rolfe
Adult human female
I haven't seen this discussed at all, so far. How does one cope with pets in a situation like this?
On one hand, when there is so much human need, and resources so stretched trying to rescue people, it seems almost obscene to be thinking about rescuing animals. On the other hand, the stubborn determination of many people not to be parted from their pets will inevitably interfere with a rescue unless some provision is made.
The shelters in Texas had signs outside, "NO GUNS, NO DRUGS, NO ALCOHOL, NO PETS". So what do you do if you've managed to get there, with your cat in a basket or your spaniel on a lead? This story is the only one I've seen dealing with pet rescue. Granted, 15 cats is a bit much. But that lady wasn't going anywhere without them. So, the rescuer tells her, "Yesterday we were shooting the dogs we left behind." I can see there might be circumstances where there was no alternative to that, but as the only option? Are people likely to accept it?
Last night on TV there was a similar story, of a lady with a dog on a lead who had refused several offers of evacuation, but was now willing to go because the evacuation system was now accepting pets.
Obviously, crowded shelters don't want to be filled with dogs and cats and hamsters and tortoises. But what's the alternative? Mandatory euthanasia of all pets in the affected area? Who's going to do that? Are you going to set a vet with a bottle of Euthatal at the entrance to the shelters? Or are you going to turn the animals loose? There are already sad images of abandoned dogs stranded on flooded rooftops. The poor animals might well starve. But if they don't, if they manage to make it to dry land, do the authorities really want to have packs of feral dogs to deal with as well as all the rest of their problems?
If anything like this were to happen here, there would be several animal rescue charities helping evacuate animals, and offering accomodation for pets while their owners were in the shelters. I know there were similar charities working after the tsunami too. I'd imagine the same might be happening in the US, but it's odd that nobody seems to have reported on what's being done.
Rolfe.
On one hand, when there is so much human need, and resources so stretched trying to rescue people, it seems almost obscene to be thinking about rescuing animals. On the other hand, the stubborn determination of many people not to be parted from their pets will inevitably interfere with a rescue unless some provision is made.
The shelters in Texas had signs outside, "NO GUNS, NO DRUGS, NO ALCOHOL, NO PETS". So what do you do if you've managed to get there, with your cat in a basket or your spaniel on a lead? This story is the only one I've seen dealing with pet rescue. Granted, 15 cats is a bit much. But that lady wasn't going anywhere without them. So, the rescuer tells her, "Yesterday we were shooting the dogs we left behind." I can see there might be circumstances where there was no alternative to that, but as the only option? Are people likely to accept it?
Last night on TV there was a similar story, of a lady with a dog on a lead who had refused several offers of evacuation, but was now willing to go because the evacuation system was now accepting pets.
Obviously, crowded shelters don't want to be filled with dogs and cats and hamsters and tortoises. But what's the alternative? Mandatory euthanasia of all pets in the affected area? Who's going to do that? Are you going to set a vet with a bottle of Euthatal at the entrance to the shelters? Or are you going to turn the animals loose? There are already sad images of abandoned dogs stranded on flooded rooftops. The poor animals might well starve. But if they don't, if they manage to make it to dry land, do the authorities really want to have packs of feral dogs to deal with as well as all the rest of their problems?
If anything like this were to happen here, there would be several animal rescue charities helping evacuate animals, and offering accomodation for pets while their owners were in the shelters. I know there were similar charities working after the tsunami too. I'd imagine the same might be happening in the US, but it's odd that nobody seems to have reported on what's being done.
Rolfe.
I'm buying five of the foldable cardboard ones this payday. I would really hate to have to leave any of my animals behind.