Why don't they allow people to bring their pets?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2005

There are many reasons.

- when one is doing search and rescue, human life is the priority.....pets are a distant second.

- Many of these rescued people will be going to a triage and to a shelter or to a private home offering a shelter, or possibly to the hospital. Where are you going to put the pet? The shelters are not equipped for them, the private home may not be able to take them, and they cannot go in the hospital.

- Animals are vectors of disease. A dog with a few fleas or ticks (endemic to the South in the summer) can spread alot of illness.

- Hygeine is already an acute problem. Add a few pets, many of which are stressed and may have serious breaks in bathroom training, and you add to the problem. If you are having trouble dealing with the hygeine/waste fro m the current human population, do you want to add pet problems to the mix.

- Pets are like children. You absolutely adore your own, think that they are the most wonderful ones on the face of the Earth, and they can do very little wrong in your eyes. Other people frequently think that they are noisy, poorly behaved heathens with no proper training.

- stressed out humans are difficult to evacuate, can become violent and can be irrational to no end. The same applies to animals. The inoculation histories are unknown. If a rescuer gets scratched/bitten, with the current contamination issues, it could seriously debilitate or kill them. And as I have had to have the rabies vaccine, I can tell you that it is no picnic.

- large numbers of people are allergic. How are you going to isolate the pet people from the rest, when you are already having diffculty getting shelters?

I love my cats dearly, but can fully understand why rescuers follow the rules that they do.

Blackcat99 · Sep 8, 2005

I think FEMA should allow people to take their pets with them. Here we have these people who have lost everything and then we are going to have them lose their pets too? What a horrible death for the animals-slowly starving to death in their own homes.Telling these citizens of our country to abandon the animals they care so deeply for is in fact illegal. Chapter 14, Section 102.1 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes for example, states that anyone who abandons an animal is in fact, guilty of the crime of cruelty to animals. I think more people will die because of the "no-pets" rule. :crying2: My pets are "family members" and I would not abandon them.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 8, 2005

I understand all the reasons why not, but it still hurts to see that. Human lives are a priority of course but much for my comfort and that of other animal lovers......there are lots of humane societies there volunteering and strickly rescuing pets. :) The local shelter I volunteer for, has taken a bus with lots of vaccines and supplies to rescue pets, get them proper care and put them up for adoption. They shouls arrive there today :). http://www.cthumane.org/site/PageServer

Blackcat99 · Sep 8, 2005

Thanks caroladybelle and Jessica Gmz for your messages. :) Yes it would certainly be very difficult to even find a place to put the pet once you did evacuate-there would be so many hassles trying to find shelter etc. I'm so glad the humane societies are rescuing pets. Perhaps, they should go to each house with 2 boats? One boat for FEMA to rescue the humans and the other boat the humane society to rescue the pets? I feel so sorry for all the human and animal victims of Katrina. What a terrible tragedy for all involved. :crying2:

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 8, 2005

Thanks caroladybelle and Jessica Gmz for your messages. :) Yes it would certainly be very difficult to even find a place to put the pet once you did evacuate-there would be so many hassles trying to find shelter etc. I'm so glad the humane societies are rescuing pets. Perhaps, they should go to each house with 2 boats? One boat for FEMA to rescue the humans and the other boat the humane society to rescue the pets? I feel so sorry for all the human and animal victims of Katrina. What a terrible tragedy for all involved.

Yes, very tragic and traumatizing indeed. The Lord only knows how I would react if I could not go with my pets. :crying2:

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Sep 8, 2005

Well I know that this issue is slowly being addressed by many volunteers and volunteer orgs that understand just how important our furry/feathered/finned family members are! And I think they are GREAT!

I have been trying to offer my home to abandoned pet birds, but being in Oregon...it is pretty stressful to ship, and the threats of west nile is high in those regions (had it before with the wild bird population in certain parishes, so nothing new...just to be aware of if you are trying to rescue birds like I am).

Once I find a way to offer up my new retreat room for a bird hospital and shelter for them, I will...but finding a way to get the communication out that I can help with some shipping (not much but some) I am good to go!

Sadly I can't do dogs and cats because of my present bird population at home, I am a bird freak! LOL! But I am finding other homes here in the country that will be more than thrilled to take on lost or abandoned animals of all kinds :).

I also offered a room in my home to an evacuee, but being so far away...most don't want to come way out here and stay there for many reasons..this I totally understand..but ya know what...I will take pets, and many should open their hearts to not only taking in people, but their pets as well (heck, I have enough land to makeshift a dog run or what not in a pinch! :) ).

Kudos to all those volunteers helping our lesser appreciated family when it comes to emergencies..our feathered, furred, scaled, swimming, loving, prrrrrring family members !

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 8, 2005

Well I know that this issue is slowly being addressed by many volunteers and volunteer orgs that understand just how important our furry/feathered/finned family members are! And I think they are GREAT!
I have been trying to offer my home to abandoned pet birds, but being in Oregon...it is pretty stressful to ship, and the threats of west nile is high in those regions (had it before with the wild bird population in certain parishes, so nothing new...just to be aware of if you are trying to rescue birds like I am).
Once I find a way to offer up my new retreat room for a bird hospital and shelter for them, I will...but finding a way to get the communication out that I can help with some shipping (not much but some) I am good to go!
Sadly I can't do dogs and cats because of my present bird population at home, I am a bird freak! LOL! But I am finding other homes here in the country that will be more than thrilled to take on lost or abandoned animals of all kinds :).
I also offered a room in my home to an evacuee, but being so far away...most don't want to come way out here and stay there for many reasons..this I totally understand..but ya know what...I will take pets, and many should open their hearts to not only taking in people, but their pets as well (heck, I have enough land to makeshift a dog run or what not in a pinch! :) ).
Kudos to all those volunteers helping our lesser appreciated family when it comes to emergencies..our feathered, furred, scaled, swimming, loving, prrrrrring family members !

You offering your home is so sweet. And coming from another pet frek lover........thank you :icon_hug:

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Sep 8, 2005

You offering your home is so sweet. And coming from another pet frek lover........thank you :icon_hug:

Thanks! Well, it was an idea I had, but my family all came to me thinking the same thing! So it is a full fledged family offering!

I also look at it this way...I care for a living, and to have the eyes of another person or pet appreciating me for helping, someone or pet to hold and hug...I can't imagine anything better! And with people..heck I get to learn about another person, a whole new part of the country, an entire life..and make a life long friend forever, at the same time as doing that for them. Win win to me in the midst of so much hurt!

Knowledge, love and respect..three things that you can give and give and give and never runs out...share it :)! (told to me by a wonderful teacher in RN school! I think of that often!).

I am not alone here in Oregon either...oh man! The outpouring of compassion and RESPECT for the situation..even though we would never have a single hint to what it would be like....well..outstanding and so heart warming! I am proud of my state for that...we are the only NW state to offer! (Washington did not offer since we are barely getting people or pets because we are so far away...). But I suspect many wonderful people no matter what state are doing the same...and that makes me feel so wonderful inside....

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 8, 2005

Thanks! Well, it was an idea I had, but my family all came to me thinking the same thing! So it is a full fledged family offering!
I also look at it this way...I care for a living, and to have the eyes of another person or pet appreciating me for helping, someone or pet to hold and hug...I can't imagine anything better! And with people..heck I get to learn about another person, a whole new part of the country, an entire life..and make a life long friend forever, at the same time as doing that for them. Win win to me in the midst of so much hurt!
Knowledge, love and respect..three things that you can give and give and give and never runs out...share it :)! (told to me by a wonderful teacher in RN school! I think of that often!).
I am not alone here in Oregon either...oh man! The outpouring of compassion and RESPECT for the situation..even though we would never have a single hint to what it would be like....well..outstanding and so heart warming! I am proud of my state for that...we are the only NW state to offer! (Washington did not offer since we are barely getting people or pets because we are so far away...). But I suspect many wonderful people no matter what state are doing the same...and that makes me feel so wonderful inside....

In resumed words....you are just a "fluff ball full of love and care" :)

Wish I owned my own home not an apt. so I could do the same. Meanwhile, the best I do is volunteering at the humane society, and since they are over in LA helping out...I am sure there will be plenty of work to be done. :)

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Sep 8, 2005

In resumed words....you are just a "fluff ball full of love and care" :)
Wish I owned my own home not an apt. so I could do the same. Meanwhile, the best I do is volunteering at the humane society, and since they are over in LA helping out...I am sure there will be plenty of work to be done. :)

Oh heck ya! That would be so wonderful to volunteer for! I am in discussion with our county and next county (Portland metro area) on what we can do out here to help if animals arrive..and get this...expected 500 dogs/cat to arrive to the main humaine society in Portland today! Heck, even if I can just bathe a few, cuddle a few...so worth it to my heart!

I am lucky...I just moved into a new home after 7 years of trying (hubby had a heart attack and all our money went to him to recover..which he did thank the Lord...but there went our home payment...but YEAH..just got it..why not help others like others have done for us with their loving support!), and no longer live in a double wide trailer. We wanted to home people in the trailer since it is still here, but our county will no allow it...no residential buildings when you already have one under 7 acres..I own 1 1/4 acre. They won't budge..and say our septic can't handle it anyway (yeah right...trust me..it can!). But you can't fight the state....so oh well...a room or even two of my home are open, and if they have medical experience...I have CNA positions availabe at my work, and I have a priority employment standard at my facility because of what we are trying to do!!!!

Anyone hear of birds that need rescue...please e-mail....I really need to help people and their pets, but birds are best for me since I own them and know how to care for them most of all....

sunnyjohn · Sep 8, 2005

Until I got my cat Wysisyg in March, I would have been one of those people wondering, "Why don't they just leave those animals behind? Don't they know humans are more important?"

I grew up on on an island very familiar with hurricanes. I went through many of them as a kid.

I still think humans are important, but I would have snuck my cat in with me in a hand bag! If she was sedated with meds from the vet, no one would have known.

My calico ball of fur helped me get over a terrible depression. She means a lot to me.