Finally, pets recognized as important family members!

[Ginny Nightingale]

This is a story about how things have changed with regards to evacuations since Hurricane Katrina--pet friendly shelters and other resources now exist for those of us who absolutely could not leave our pets behind--and I KNOW that includes all of us on DK!!

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/31/living/pets-superstorm-sandy/index.ht...

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

No doubt...our pets have always been a very important part of our family.  They always will and anyone who says to me "it's just a dog" is gonna get a punch in the nose!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is a good step. But unless you have little dogs and crates I don't know how this would work. I would find it pretty impossible to take my dogs crates with me. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree, F.  Last year when we spent a week at the Shelter, all dogs were welcomed.  Crates were not required, and the Town's Animal Control Officer spent most days and nights in the "dog room" to make sure that everything went smoothly.  I never saw any problems with the dogs or the owners....even Murph behaved, probably because he was off leash most of the time. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, I am just curious. Did your dogs stay in the "dog room" for the duration of your stay and what was that area like??

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Laurie, the dogs stayed with us....we were all "in the dog room".  It was a really large room in our High School with the furniture moved to one side and a large center area where the dogs could play.  They actually created two "dog rooms" and one "cat room" (the cats had to be crated).  There were some cots so people could sleep there with their dogs if they wanted.  We didn't...we went home each night but spent most days there where it was warm.  They served coffee as well as lunch and dinner...we went and got take-out, but the food didn't look too bad.  People came and went and at any point in time there were only a few dogs in each room.  People that had to go to work crated their dogs and left them there.  It really was great to have a warm, clean place to go each day and everyone that we met there was so nice....all volunteers.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

That sounds like a good model for other communities, Jane. I could never leave Finnegan behind in an evacuation or be separated from him. Never. He comes or I don't. This makes me think I should get more involved in community preparedness.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, That sounds like a wonderful system. I agree with Cheryl. It sounds like a good model for other areas.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

If she doesn't go neither do I! Thank goodness some understand.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad to see that some good came out of Katrina.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

During the storm I was heartened to hear an announcement for 3 shelters in our area and all were pet friendly. That's a big change for the better.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

If my dogs don't go, neither do I and I am not kidding. They had evacuations in Lancaster, PA, and I noticed that people went to one shelter and their dogs went to a dog shelter.

[Carol and Banjo]

DH and I have discussed this many times in the past few days.....the "What would we do....".   Under no circumstances could we leave Banjo.  Never.    If we needed shelter and he couldn't be with us.....we'd live out of the truck.