Some people are insane, as we all know. My mother in law said she would stay and die with her dog.

 

Screw that, all I know is that I like most pets a lot more than most people. People are stupid, annoying and oppotunistic in general. Give me the unconditional loyalty of a pet any day over the annoying, greedy nature of people.

 

Once again....I agree with fatman.

 

Matt and Momalle, I totally understand what y'all are saying however if the Government provides the funding to evacuate pets as well as people then the money will be there to hire the means to get them out as well as the human victims.

I do have the means to take care of my pets and I would gladly pay for them to be evacuated if it came to that, unfortunately as the laws stand that is not an option at this point. It doesn't matter how much money I have, the laws now say -save the people- they say nothing about the pets. And why not demand tax dollars to help me move me and my pets?? Hell the Government wastes our money on way worse causes. I have no problem with my tax money going to help people save the lives of their pets as well as their children and other loved ones. I'd rather see it go for that than to pay welfare wages to drug addicts and gang members.

 

That is a large part of my opposition, by and large the only people that would benefit would be welfare recipients. I would be willing to spend money to help the elderly and handicapped with their pets.

 

Karen I know what your saying too and I agree but, my only opposition is that we need to find a way to get all the people out that want to get out first before we worry about pets or livestock. It is my understanding that this is all over one guy who wouldn't evacuate because there wasn't room for his pets. (That is more than one pet that he had) Afterwards they went back and can not find him so they are assuming that he is dead. So he made an educated decision to stay behind. Logically he wanted to leave. He knew there was a dangerous storm coming yet because emotionally he decided to stay with his pets he may have persihed. I'm sorry but chop that up to the Darwin Theory. Yes it's a little sad but I find the stories of the people that wanted to get out, or tried to get out but couldn't and then perished even more sad and disturbing. That's why I say lets invest our money to gain the resources and have working plans to get everybody out in a timely manner first. Then we can start working on getting the pets out too.

 

I say let them bring their pets. It could be a win-win situation. If they run out of food they can make cat and/or dog stew…

Kitty, the other white meat…

 

Well, I love my dogs more than I love most strangers... They were my "kids" before I had a child- for the last 11 and 9 years respectively.

As long as I have a car- they have a seat in it...

No way would I leave my girls behind... They're coming with me.

 

My pooch is part of the family too, but do I want PETA and the Feds deciding how I will save him..... NO thanx.
So some folks decided to not evacuate for their own reasons - their choice.
We just do not need one more law about anything.

 

So all of the folks evacuated and rescued from Katrina were welfare recipients?? I find that hard to believe. I'm sure there were a good many hard working citizens that were loaded on those busses and taken to Houston. And what of their pets? Left behind to starve and die. If there was a law in place whereby the pets could be saved too, there would be enough money to get enough buses and such to get those animals out as well as all the people. I'm not saying let the people suffer so the pets can ride the bus, I'm simply stating that if the funding was there no one-person or pet-would have to be left behind.

 

You may think that legislation is a waste of time, BUT.....

Americans that fall within the lower low-class usually value relationships that they have with their pets. They tend to develop stronger bonds with their pets than they do with most human beings. They see their pet as a confidant and someone who will not talk back to them or judge them. This seems like an almost necessary relationship for them to develop. Pets are NOT a "luxury" to them. Ever notice that most homeless people even have a pet or pets?

They see this issue COMPLETELY different than you or I might. There were more than likely PLENTY of people that fell within this social class and didn't leave NO because they couldn't take their pets along with them. But I have no data regarding how many of those people were those who actually perished in the storm.

That being said, I also know that those in the upper middle-class and lower upper-class also tend to see this issue in almost the same light and value their pets for the exact same reasons. I know that if I was faced with a free evacuation without my dog, or having to pay $500/day to rent a car, the car would be rented long before I'd step on that free bus. Those that can't afford alternate means of evacuation have to stay, and they did.

Of course, if you are not a pet owner at all, I can understand why you would think this is a waste of time and money. If you don't have a pet, talk to pet owners before you make your mind up on whether or not this is a pointless item of consideration. You'd be surprised at how many of your pet owning friends would not leave their pets behind in the event of a natural disaster.

 

I dont think it's a total waste of time and money. I just dont think it's the right time.

They can write what ever they want in legislature, put until a plan has been mapped out then carried out. Then it is just speculation wether it will actually work or not. But they dont have a "Plan A" much less "Plan B" or "C" to evacuate people from some where. Keep in mind that some of those in this disaster that did have cars. They were not all able to get away either, because all the main highways were grid locked for 24 hours prior. There were 1000's that got stuck in thier cars on the highways trying to leave. We could spend billions and charter an individule tour bus for each family and thier pets. But alot of good that does when the bus can't move because traffic has stopped. I think I read somewhere that there was only 4 ways out of N.O. and one was across the Mississippi. Looking at my town, we only have 5 ways out with one being an interstate. Yea I feel safe.... NOT!

Human nature dictates that we won't be scared enough to leave when they first announce danger. But as danger gets closer and we see someone else leaving then we get scared. So like the N.O. example the majority won't be scared enough to leave untill the last few hours and the heard mentality is to leave together. How can we move a few million people over 5 roads in only 24 hours? Answer that then we can worry about if pets should be allowed on the bus or not. Even if we closed the incoming lanes and made them out going as well. Then it wouldn't be enough.

So...
At this point in time it is a pointless law. Writing it right now was like wiping before you poop, it just doesn't make since.
Let's expend our energy to get things moving smoothly for the next time, first. (No pun intended)

 

No not at all, and remember, welfare includes Medicaid and thus elderly people, and I would support helping evacuate their pets. Most people who were not on welfare had the means to leave themselves, and take their pets, or decided to stay.

 

If there's only room on the boat or chopper for my loyal great dane (on whom I've spent way too much $$$ to fix her knees) or the filthiest, lowest-life scum in the neighborhood, I'd say a tearful goodbye to my dog.

People win, period. I have three dogs and two cats that I love dearly, but they are NOT the equivalent of humans.

Drives me nuts that people will let graphic violence, incl. rape scenes on prime time tv with few complaints, but hint at violence against an animal and the network phones light up.

I can replace my dog a hell of a lot easier than someone else can replace their kid.