My Vent

VENT!! ..........email us to have your VENT Published

Hi Jean,

Thank you for all your hard work over the years in caring
for puppies and now demonstrating your unique compassion by
starting and operating this web site.

I am not in a position to write about some of the things I
saw since I am uncertain whether they were entirely legal.
(Much of what went on was not from what I could tell but
then I am from Canada and nor all that familiar with the
laws of La).

I came to Baton Rouge - a city that was bursting at the
seems with more people than it could help - as a result of
my work with Doctors without Borders. Our group was not
officially involved but many of us have worked in horrific
conditions across the globe so my belief was the least I
could do was take some time from work and help my American
neighbours who badly needed help!!
I am a pediatric oncologist so the center I worked at
treated children with serious illnesses. I was shocked to
discover the place I was at actually did research on animals
but that was just the beginning. In and of itself, it was a
good hospital - one of the better ones in fact. We faced
many issues - children whose doctors had to flee the area
and were God knows where and even when the doctors were able
to stay somewhere in close proximity, their own offices were
gone and with them, the Health records of their young and
tiny patients. So we had to essentially start from the
beginning in some cases and rely on the guesses of already
traumatized medical personnel in others. I heard the stories
of the Charity Hospital situation and while there have been
many expressing outrage, they also tend to be the same
people who are not thrilled that more tax money is going to
the Fla Panhandle. There were instances where my colleagues
- doctors - who do take an oath to do no harm - had to
decide what was best - try to save an already critically ill
and even dying patient and get them on a helicopter that was
being shot at and have that person face a 90% chance of
dying from that stress alone or administering some
meditation that would make death arrive faster and more
humanely. It was a no win situation and I have been in it
before, usually in what we in the west term third world
countries. No one is God and I myself am quite spiritual and
know God has saved me on occasion and have prayed for his
guidance in similar situations. Who am I to decide who dies
and who does not? And the fact is we make these decisions
almost every day in hospitals - with the help of an ethics
committee - but do we keep someone alive who has absolutely
NO quality of life (and by that I mean brain activity and no
possibility of any though I do believe in miracles and have
seen that happen!) and what do we do when patients beg us to
help them end a painful, horrible existence that they cannot
do themselves since their hands are retrained so they do not
pull out their breathing tube.

I realize I am off what I started to say but this is what
these people faced under fire. I have been there too - men
with guns shooting at me and others while we huddled with
seriously ill children and their parents, already dead from
AIDs or some other disease we in the west would not have
died from. It's left its mark on me so I know what these
people had to cope with and their first thoughts were how
could they best help their patients? If they attempted to
get them out of there - which would take more time and
likely end up in all of them dying - or did they help these
people find an easy death (the origin of the term euthanasia
comes from) so that these roving bands of domestic
terrorists did not shoot them dead in their beds and leave
them there to die, as it appears some who took an oath to
serve and protect did to some beloved pets in St. Bernard's
Parish!

We did manage to help most of our patients. I say most
because cancer protocols can be difficult to finally achieve
- if you want the right one that will work because all of us
are unique.

What I want you and your readers to know is what we saw in
New Orleans!! I felt like I was back in Africa or Bosnia -
where there is little concern for life, human, feline,
canine, any kind of life. The vulnerable- the old, the poor,
and pets left behind often because their people were
promised they'd be cared for - were left injured, dying in
their homes and on the street. I have never seen anything
like that in North America and I hope to God I never do so
again!

While we were there to try to find some sick children and
elderly people in desperate need of critical care, we did
save as many dogs and cats as we could - and many of the
formerly pampered pets had now turned almost feral as they
tried to fend for themselves with the more street wise
ferals who also needed help. Little poodles and bichons had
little to fight with when faced with larger and cagier dogs,
who in protecting themselves did not care if lunch became a
small bichon who had died of hunger and thirst - most likely
from a heart attack after their kidneys and elctrolytes
ceasing to function. I have several kitties and my heart
just ached to see beautiful cats - who had likely never been
outdoors in their entire life except on a leash or a cat run
or in a carrier in their meomy's vehicle when they went to
visit grandma or the vet. Until now, their most traumatic
episode in life has been a vet visit where someone, helping
them, poked and probed and injected them with a needle or
stitched them up. Now, they had to fend for themselves
amidst poisonous water, people who were not at all friendly
like their humans had been and other nastier predators who
wanted them for lunch!

My colleagues - not necessarily as consumed as I was with
animal rights- were not totally thrilled with me when I
actually screamed when I saw some tiny newborn Siamese
kittens whose mother lay there dead, her body still warm and
with large tooth marks in them. We may have appeared just at
the right time to have scared away whatever animal had done
this to her but I made them stop our boat and I scooped up
those babies whose eyes were open (amazing that this caring
mama had managed to keep her three (we did not find any
others and my friends refused to let me search longer) wee
ones alive. She would definitely be one of my my candidates
for Mother of the Year!

We picked up several other pets but as a meezer meomy
myself, I could not merely hand over these babies to that
large tent where some babies made it and others di not, not
for lack of caring but young kittens always need warmth, TLC
and food to eat and proper modes of elimination. So, back at
the Inn that was putting up our group, I sneaked them in -
given that the innkeeper was not as she made it very clear
"a cat person!" - but I fought back by telling her if she
did not help me, I would go to the media. She tried to be
diplomatic by informing me that there are "too many human
beings who need saving. The press don't care about animals",
she added, thinking that might sway me. I pointed out that
there had been an outpouring of support for the little white
dog named Snowball and in my very humble opinion, she was
sadly mistaken. I also quoted that famous Ghandi quote
referring to how we care for our most vulnerable but she was
the kind of person who may not have even known who he was. I
found a baby pouch at the hospital and brought it with me to
work - scared to leave them in that place. I found people
there who would feed the kittens and pet them and talk to
them when I was caring for the growing number of cancer
patients coming in.

Finally, I found a nurse at the center who offered me a
place in her own home and the five of us moved into her home
for the duration of my stay there. I had flown to
Jacksonville and drove from there and pondered how I would
return via plane with three babies. Part of the problem was
solved when the nurse adopted one blue point - we estimated
the babies to be about 4 weeks old. The remaining two were
six weeks when I convinced Delta Airlines to allow me to
take these babies in one carrier on board with me.

Thus, they are now Canadians but are alive and well and
thriving! Not to worry - I will teach them their Cajun
heritage since I speak French. <g>

I also hasten to point out that I would have been in La long
before but states grant permission to doctors to work in
various states and the grace of God and a Harvard MD allowed
me to finally cut through some of the bureaucracy. Alas, one
of my med school classmates faced exactly the same plight
and he was from Texas. So - another rant is that in North
America - if we can debate softwood lumber deals and
negotiate the Alberta Tar Sands, surely to God we can
formulate a taskforce that is ready to go at any time to
provide medical and veterinary care at a moment's notice
whether that help is needed due to a natural disaster like
Katrina or a more nefarious terrorist attack.

By all the important measures, those in charge failed - and
I do not indict another county while exonerating my own.
Canada is involved in Norad - they too must be ready for
this.

When the Halifax Explosion in 1917 blew up almost the entire
city and became - at that time - the largest human made
disaster in the world - and a blizzard the next day made
matters twice as bad as they had been, a medical team from
Boston arrived to help the wounded and care for the sick and
the dying. Each year now, the government of Nova Scotia
offers a gift of a Christmas tree to the good people of
Boston. As a native Haligonian, the least I could have done
for Katrina was to do my best but now I will work to create
some sort of permanent way it can be done do that lives are
not lost and time wasted because bureaucrats amnd political
opportunsts get in the way.

That is my rant. I am so sorry for what has happened to
everyone on the Panhandle. My grandfather retired to Fort
Walton Beach so I know the area well and it was a small way
to give back after the Halifax Explosion that many years
ago. We now need to make these methods of held and
assistance much easier!

Keep up your good work.

Sincerely,

Erin

From: Jane Garrison
no puddles for them to drink out of because it has not rained in over a
month. This is a city where there are no residents who will feed them
because very few people are actually living in New Orleans. This is a city
in a crisis. These animals have nothing but us to help them. I hate to say
it but the animal community is failing these animals. Today we only had 24
people to put out food and water stations in a city that has thousands of
animals on the streets. It is a tragedy that these animals made it through
the hurricane, made it through the flood, made it through another hurricane
and are dieing because they don't have enough food and water. Please don't
think that someone else will go and help...because they won't and they're
not. Please get in your car, get on a plane and come to New Orleans to help
put food and water out for these animals. We currently have over three
thousand locations in our database where we know animals are hiding under
porches and under houses. I am begging you to please help. We will provide
you with the list of locations and all the dog and cat food you will need.
Just come...
All the instructions you need are on Animalrescueneworleans.com.
PLEASE don't let anymore animals die...

Jane Garrison

As one of the many people that sacrificed everything and went to New Orleans 3 times in order to help save all of these helpless animals I would like to say a few things:
First is:
Thank you God for allowing me this opportunity to help make a difference.
Thank you God for introducing me to other human beings willing to give of themselves.
Thank you God for the strength to get up every day and attempt to exist in this world.
And then I question:
Why would something like this happen?
Why do people judge and criticize when they slept in a warm safe bed every night?
Why do I still have nightmares and visions of all of the animals I found left chained that hung themselves trying not to drown?
Why am I still able to smell death?
Why can I still hear the screams of the animals as they died in my arms from dehydration?
Why can't I get the blood stains out of my jeans from the rottie that was shot and left to die?
Why are the animals punished for human ignorance?
For anyone that was there God Bless you!
For those who have supported us Thank you!
For those who have judged and criticized Shame on you
look in a mirror first.
The search continues..........I'll be there will you?
PetresqInc@aol.com

OK please forgive me if this is not as eloquently
written as it should be. I have been following the
disaster since it happened. I check this site all the
time to see the good and bad stories. My question or
suggestion lies with the snowball fund. I saw the
footage and cried like everyone else. I was thankful
for the coverage that it brought to the animals that
need help and where being ignored. But I just check
today and saw the new story about the lady that is
championing the rescue efforts in the Vermillion
Parrish. Since the snowball has not been located and I
hate to say it probably won't be. Why not donate the
$10,000.00 reward to this lady? She sounds like she
really needs any help that could be brought. Where I
realize the snowball fund was originated to encourage
information to lead to a reunion but that hasn't
helped or maybe there just isn't any information to be
had? These people sound pretty desperate and need
help now. That $10,000.00 could help allot of people
and their animals survive a little longer until our
incompetent government gets a grip. Thank you.

Erin
Indiana

As someone who was also down there volunteering for the animals I am totally sickened by the fact that HSUS would even consider helping a backyard breeder who's dogs were in such bad health that they were barely alive when they got to Lamar Dixon.. and yes I know that for a fact because I took care of the dogs at Lamar Dixon !! The owner has no vet on record or proof of ever taking her dogs to the vet...these dogs were all Hook Worm positive and so bad that they were enemic.. this does not happen in 2 weeks. this so called great dog owner had eight adult dogs eight puppies and 4 large dogs and many cats... the only dogs she is looking for are the small dogs that she bred to make her living...it is amazing to me that she has been able to round up all kinds of news media to cover this but it took her 5 weeks to make a phone call to enquire about her dogs ! I am all for reuniting pets with their rightful owners .. but lets make sure the owners are responsible !
<tl-meier@sbcglobal.net

Since the hurricane I have been on your site several times a week. I have even donated several times. The more I look at your site the more mad I get at people!!!! I can understand not having the means or money to get outta town, the first blame I put on are the owners! They made the announcement that Katrina was coming weeks ahead of time!!! To see how poorly run our government is pathetic! To see how people treat animals are pathetic, maybe someone should chain an idiot to a fence when a flood comes!?!?!? OH..NO..!!!!! That would be murder! You will go to jail!!! An animal? AH hell we will just breed more!!!! Its alive!! Lets just shoot it!!! one less "living breathing thing to deal with"!!!!!! Cant euthanize humans, (ie..Hospital in NO) but hell lets euthanize all the animals!!!

No lets hold pet owners responsible for their action!!!! Lets hold state and local and national governments responsible!!!! Last time I checked my dogs were living breathing creatures like me! The know when they are hungry, they know when they need to go to the bathroom, yes we have to teach and train them them; but didn't we get taught and trained at an early age as well??? Being a H.S. Teacher and coach I can easily see the direction of our world, "apples don't fall far from the tree". I think this world is really really confused!! You look at the news and there is nothing about the animals! Its all about ppl who didn't take heed of the warnings, and our pitiful government!!! I feel bad for the ppl, I really do.

I'm just mad that nobody wants to take the time in the media and look at the animals! Dogs whose owners died, and "THE DOG REFUSES TO LEAVE THE OWNERS SIDE"!!! Most don't praise that, they just say awww how sad. Dogs getting shot in a school that the owners thought they would be save in that school, with writing and contact information. That's a massacre, nope.. Only if were humans in that school, instead they were all animals!! So who cares?!?!?! Not the government or media that's for damn sure. We are all gods creatures, at least that is what I have read and that's what I have been told.
I commend you all on your work and those that are on the front lines helping these animals. I know my donations were small but I hope they can help. I wish I could do more. Hell, I wish our government would do more.

God Bless

As an animal lover I have been watching and reading stories about what happened to the animals during Katrina with a heavy heart.

I think that we all have to keep in mind that with an issue so emotionally charged as this, people speak directly from the heart first without pausing to think of the effect it will have on other people.

We will all have our opinions, good or bad. It's true that some people risked everything for their dogs, some people tried to do the best they could given the circumstances and others didn't give a thought to the suffering their pets would be going thru.

I'm sure their are hundreds of families who feel awful that they had to leave their pets behind and their will be no consoling them.

But it's a waste of breath to insult each, argue and debate over what happened. All of our sorrow, anger and energy should be put into donations, volunteering and trying to do whatever we can to help not hurt the situation.

Send money, toys, food, whatever you can no matter how small. Contact your politicians, sign petitions and make people aware that this shouldn't happen again.

For the animals that suffered - let's give them a legacy of change, education and reform, not finger pointing.

Syl

I just have to add my two cents please. I dropped everything and left for NO from Toronto Ontario Canada on Sept 26th. I did not stop to think about what would happen when I got there... all I could think about was Charmin. Charmin looks exactly like Snowball. She is a two year old bichon whom I cannot live without. That being said, she was my motivation because I could not imagine having to leave her behind. I tried to think about being stranded on a rooftop and having to choose between my life and my pup. Sounds simple right? I keep hearing people say I wouldn't leave without my dog and they couldn't make me leave her behind... then I would think about my mom. About her having to identify my body after being in black toxic sludge for weeks. My dad, never being able to walk his daughter down the aisle and my brother, never being able to tease his sister again.

Disasters bring out the worst and best in humanity and it's a fact the world is getting the chance to see more and more. People who have the best of intentions pouring from them don't criticize people who have lost everything. People feeling the worst speak the worst. They are quick to point out what people have done wrong and what should have been done differently. Charmin was my motivation for going to St Bernard Parish because I would pray everyday that there was truly good and amazing people in the world who understood the devastation that comes from tragedy, human and weather alike, and wanted to help. If I was trapped somewhere, missing several members of my family and unable to communicate with friends and loved ones, I would be depending on the kindness of strangers. I would be after FEMA for help because I had no money and no job. I would be turning to complete strangers for shelter because my home was gone. I would be depending on the heroes from all over North America to rescue my friends and family and yes, to find and save my dog. Hindsight is 20/20 and no one can claim they knew what would happen. It is easy to say what if what if, but no one knows for sure. It is frustrating to see what continues to go on in the Gulf States, and yes, I am sure there are people who are taking advantage of the situation just as I am 100% sure there are people working to rebuild their lives and the lives of their friends and neighbors.

I hope that those people who have helped and those who continue to do so understand how loved and appreciated they are. The rescue group I was so blessed to travel with continues to work tirelessly to reunite animals with owners. I brought home a rescued dog myself and hope, that in the future, his family claims him. Until that time comes, even if it is years from now, I will love him like I love Charmin and help him in anyway I can. That includes treating his heartworm which I do without complaint.

I am lucky because I have a job, a bank account and a family that cares for me. What would I do if it was wiped out tomorrow? I don't know... I do not believe it is healthy to plan for tragedy when the world is so full of love and kindness.

Jesse

I saw post about a lady looking to get her shih tzu's from Robyn at Pet ResQ. I understand that this Tamika Stevens is looking for her dogs that were found in horrible condition and in need of medical treatment and this Tamika is a back yard breeder who is not a good person when it comes to taking care of dogs. Why would Pet finder and the HSUS help people get back their dogs so they can continue to back yard breed. Just ask Robyn about this Tamika and she saw first hand how bad these dogs were.

I feel for all the people of the gulf who lost so much, HOWEVER...all it would take is one phone call to HSUS or ASPCA, and someone else would have rescued the pet and gotten it better vet care than most have ever had. They also are providing foster care for animals who's owners are not in a position to take them back.. I was in both Hattiesburg and Gonzales taking care of the rescued animals, and saw first hand people working 24/7 to get lists together and grid maps organized so that people who called to report missing or left behind pets could have a chance of seeing them again. WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY!!!!!!
Karen Hathaway
Northfield, MA

My husband and I had 3 dogs and no children for 16 years. We just loved those little guys!!! After 16 years we got pregnant and people would say, “What are you going to do with your dogs?” I said, “Keep them”. I would get so annoyed by this; I just didn’t understand why they would even ask that question. Unfortunately, dogs don’t live much past 13 and now we have 3 new dogs. We got the yellow lab from a friend, we bought a cocker that didn’t turn out as a show girl and then we adopted a pit/lab mix so he was turned into a fighting dog. Our son and they just get along great. There would absolutely be no way we would leave our dogs behind. I would die with them, they never ask for anything but your love.

I have had such a hard time coping with all the animals left behind for Katrina. It is the saddest thing watching these poor animals suffer so. I don’t think there is any excuse under the sun to leave your animal to starve to death!!!!!!! My heart has ached because of these people. I have called the Gov. of Louisiana’s office and I really don’t think that she or any of the elected officials care about the animals. St. Bernard Perish should be thrown into the ocean after the sheriff’s have shot up all of the animals they want to.

I really don’t want my hard earned tax dollars being sent to Louisiana, I want to send my tax dollars to people who take care of their animals.

The State of Louisiana has caused a lot of unnecessary heart ache over the last few months. A lot of these poor animals were not taken care of in the first place. The heartworm number is out of sight and the fighting dogs are incredible.

What a sorry group of people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They deserve to starve to death like they left their animals to do.

Deanna

Dear Deanna,
Do you have any idea what it is like to be pulled from your attic with your 2 year old and your three dogs and two birds and, end up in Tennese with nothing but your child who you promised would be able to have his dog after seeing his whole house fill up with water. They didn't even have shoes on their feet and now after getting to safty they find out all their aminals are dead. I know what people like that went through because they are my best friends and my husband was with them. Don't talk about people from St Bernard if you don't know anything about them. Your an Ass.
trissy1982@yahoo.com

Deanna,

Where in the hell do you get off talking about something you don't have a clue about. I guess you didn't know that our dogs from the parish have won first place in The National Police Dog compation's. Parish police are very kind to their dogs and for one or more officers to shoot an animal dog, cat or bird for no reason at all is very unlikly. Besides if you are an animal lover you must not be a very big one cause if you were you would understand why they did what they did if they did so. So as far as your little comment about the parish you can stick it where the sun don't shine. And you really need to get a life cause if the best you can do with your time is sit and write rude things about shit you don't know you might as well pack your shit and leave the country cause right now in our time of need and all the hardship the people of St. Bernard, New Orleans, and Mississippi are going through it sounds to us that you need to be put out of your misery!!!
simonsr101@yahoo.com

In response to the woman who wrote the following:

"As a New Orleans evacuee, I feel compelled to respond to your comment. Many of us lost everything, including our vehicles. How can a pet owner return to the city if they don't have transportation? And even if they did have a car, do they have the money to buy gas? Assuming they manage that, how will they get past the National Guard checkpoint? It has been more than one month since Katrina hit, and I am STILL not allowed back into my neighborhood, Lakeview, which was destroyed by the 17th Street Canal breach. Oddly enough, out-of-state animal rescuers are allowed into the city before its own citizens. Does that make sense?"

With all due respect, WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY.

To get past a checkpoint, all you had to do was say "I'm going in to rescue my animal" and they would be let through, 9 times out of 10. If you can't get through one checkpoint, go to the next one, and the next one, until you find someone who will let you through. Furthermore, checkpoints were in fixed locations at freeway off-ramps... You could park your vehicle and WALK over the guardrail a half mile short of the off-ramp and then walk to your home. What's a 10-mile walk when your pet is STARVING TO DEATH ??

I realize not everyone is as gutsy or as determined as I am, but if my animals were stuck behind a "checkpoint" - I would FIND a way to get in and get them out.

As for people not having vehicles, same thing. BORROW a vehicle from a compassionate pet-lover somewhere. Hitch-hike. Post an ad on Craigslist asking for a ride. Call one of the animal rescue groups and ask them to rescue your pet. Organize a van-load of pet owners to share expenses. If a person can't do any or all of these things themselves, then keep asking around to other people until they find someone who can, or who can help.

DO SOMETHING to save your pets!!

For crying out loud, like she said, if the RESCUERS could get in, the RESIDENTS could get in if they kept trying. If not the first try, then the second, or the third, or the fourth. But to leave animals to starve for 7 weeks without finding a way to get back in..... I'm sorry, but I have NO sympathy at this point.

I was personally at a checkpoint in St. Bernard Parish and a vehicle pulled up behind us and asked if we would go check the shelter for their dog. I asked why they didn't do it themselves and they said "because of the checkpoint" -- the checkpoint was literally 20 FEET in front of them, and they hadn't even bothered to ask if they could go through. I told them to tell the checkpoint what they wanted to do and they would be let through... and they were.

From: Jane Garrison <JaneGarrison@comcast.net>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 13:44:19 -0400
To: Kinship Circle <info@kinshipcircle.org>, Kate Danaher <katedanaher@animalearthhuman.org>
Subject: Unbelievable story

We rescued a dog last night who was put out with the trash from her house!
Reportedly, the people came home to clean out their house and the dog was in
critical condition...skin and bones, could not stand, sores all over her
body, etc.. They put her out on the sidewalk with the trash! Thankfully a
neighbor saw the whole thing and called us.
Needless to say we have the media at the vet clinic right now and we will
pursue cruelty charges.
Jane

I wish more of the owners of these animals would have made an effort to come and save their own animals too. - Linda G.

***
As a New Orleans evacuee, I feel compelled to respond to your comment. Many of us lost everything, including our vehicles. How can a pet owner return to the city if they don't have transportation? And even if they did have a car, do they have the money to buy gas? Assuming they manage that, how will they get past the National Guard checkpoint? It has been more than one month since Katrina hit, and I am STILL not allowed back into my neighborhood, Lakeview, which was destroyed by the 17th Street Canal breach. Oddly enough, out-of-state animal rescuers are allowed into the city before its own citizens. Does that make sense?

Thankfully, my husband and I evacuated with our four large dogs and two cats before the storm. But we are now in Chicago, 900 miles away. Many of our friends, neighbors and co-workers are also staying with family or friends who live very far away from New Orleans. How can they return to the city?

Of course, the people of New Orleans are grateful to all the animal rescuers who have come into our city to help. But please, reserve judgement. We no longer have the things you may take for granted: a home, a job, neighbors, a community, a daily routine. We are struggling with FEMA, insurance companies and political bureaucracy, not to mention trying to find friends, neighbors and co-workers who are scattered throughout the country. Many pet owners who have not come looking for their animals are physically and/or financially unable to do so.

Thank you, everyone, for helping the animals of our city.

Best,
Julia Lane
New Orleans, LA (now in the Chicago area)

Hi,

Idea for locating owner of Snowball: Buses to Houston on Thursday afternoon that arrived after there were about 12,500 people at the Houston Astrodome were diverted to San Antonio. Perhaps the child is at a shelter at San Antonio.
I very much hope Snowball has been or will be found and can be re-united with the boy.
The trauma of having the last vestige of his prior life taken away just at the moment when
safety appears to be within reach is immeasurable.
And particularly when the dog had already been rescued by the family from the flood and
survived the horror of the Superdome.
If the dog cannot be found but the boy is located, I very much hope that some kind person will find a way to help the boy obtain another dog to ease his pain whenever the family has
a suitable place.
There has to be some decency in this world. Your efforts to find Snowball and the boy are
wonderful. I have made a small donation toward finding the dog and his family (wish it could
be more).
The publicity over Snowball has undoubtedly help save many other pets by galvanizing
the animal lover community.

Ann Barnes

Or hyper link to our 24/7 - 365 a day animal channel with breaking news on Katrina:
http://www.live365.com/stations/animalradio?play&site=live365

The crime is that our society forces people to make choices like this. I have no human children either - my fur babies are my children and I am as fiercely protective of them as any mother is of her human children. We need legislation passed that recognizes the legitimacy of animals as family members not as "property."

I believe animals should and could have been evacuated with their owners for many valid reasons: Here are two that directly impact human welfare so the non animal people can be convinced.

Many people did not go because they did not want to leave their animals. If NOLA could have gotten those people out, plus provided busses for the people who were too poor and had no transportation, that would have likely reduced the survivors who stayed to a much more manageable number. Have a bus for pet owners and a bus for those who weren't. They had enough time to get a bunch of leashes and inexpensive carriers for those who didn't have it and as they boarded their pets could have been leashed or put in a carrier for the trip. Job Done!!

Letting animals die on rooftops or drown trying to swim to safety is not just inhumane, it is stupid because it just adds to the disease and contamination. I don't want to upset anyone but dead bodies, human or animals, need to be disposed of. And the less there are, the easier the clean up is.
Odean in PA