Chew on this:
Many of the Katrina hurricane’s 1,400 fatalities wouldn’t evacuate without their pets.
An estimated 10,000 pets were rescued, but tens of thousands were lost in that disaster.
Let’s face it. Pets are family members. You don’t abandon them in the face of real or perceived danger. Period.
America is about to adopt a national pet-evacuation policy requiring states and communities to include pets in disaster plans receiving federal financial support.
Emergency animal shelters—complete with crates, pens, medical supplies, food, water and trained personnel—will be mandatory.
Rescue personnel would have to allow evacuees to bring their caged or un-caged pets with them.
A society, after all, is judged by how humanely it treats helpless creatures. (11 JUNE 2006)
