Dog left behind in New Orleans. Seen on CBS news.

[Luvinfoofy]

Unfortunately, for people without vehicles or places to go, it isn't so easy to pack up the pets and take them along. Tough, but some people really have very few choices.

[YankeeLawyer]

I can't read through all of these threads; they are too sad.

But, if they weren't going to allow pets on the buses, they should NOT have told people to bring them to the Superdome. It is just plain cruel to make them part with pets at the last minute like that. And, while that may very well be official policy, I do think many decisions are being made very arbitrarily and are without any basis in regulations. I don't think these people have any coherent or effective plan; it is so sad.

I concede that if faced with a choice between saving a human life and that of a pet, priority should be given to the human. But I do not agree that anyone should have had to choose between the two under these circumstances.

RE the allergy concerns, etc -- obviously that was not a concern to the officials who allowed the pets into the Superdome to begin with.

[RubysMom]

In light of the stinking, putrid mess the Superdome has become, I would think allergies are the LEAST of their problems.
Let people take their pets.

[Jewels]

Although I"m very disheartened that so many animals are left helpless in these situations. I can't get the story out of my head of the mother trying to get on an evacuation bus with her two year old kid. She couldn't climb up with the kid so passes it to someone else to hold. She was pushed out of the way by the panicking people and the bus left without her! Now they are having trouble reuniting the mother and kid! I can't imagine how frantic she must be! My thoughts and prayers to them, the animals and everyone else affected.

[CosmosMariner]

None of this is fair. It is all heartbreaking. I pity those who had to make the decsion. I cannot believe the incredible deprivation. A child separated from its mother, a little dog left behind, a dog clinging to the roof. It is all so very sad.

[Ridge Runner]

I read this thread last night after a 5 hour roundtrip to pick up my stallion at the breeding clinic, so I didn't post. I was tired...but the image of Snowball and the crying little boy has haunted my sleep all night. I can only place myself in the little boy's place and know the grief and loss he must be feeling for his pet...and I know that the little dog might have been all that kept him going the last few days in that hellhole...one piece or normalcy left in his young life. I pray that someone is caring for little Snowball now, who is probably just as unhappy as the little boy, and maybe some kind person will smuggle him on board the next bus and help him find the little boy...I know I'm dreaming to think this but I can only hope and pray.

I could not have gotten on that bus and left my dog. I would not have... but as an adult I have that choice. That child did not have that choice and it just breaks my heart to think of this scene playing over and over...

[cowboylogic]

What groups or organizations are there helping the dogs and cats that are left behind? I didnt see the clips of the dog being left- but my friend saw another of them leaving a dog on the roof when the boat came and got the people- who comes for the dog?? Do the news crews ever try and help- they obviously see it as they are videoing it-

I cannot imagine ever leaving my pets and it is almost impossible to imagine those people in the hurricane area having to do so either, when they are already in such a bad way. It is heartbreaking.

[Briggsie]

I understand the value of human life...but to me, I equate my dogs and horses on the same level as mine. I could in no way, leave Deco behind. That dog has been through so much, and literally never left me behind. He saved my life, how the hell could I do that to him? I love him dearly, and I know I am going to be made fun of for this or people are going to say how can I be so stupid...but I would rather stay and die if it came down to leaving my freaking dog. I would not want to live with that for the rest of my life. I am sure the guilt and depression and anger of the haunting image of leaving him would do me in. I am crying just thinking about it. The bast#$#ds in this country cannot even help people...let alone animals...so I would not leave behind my best friend in the whole world, to leave my life in the hands of them. I would rather stay and die. I love my dog too much. Yeah yeah, I am sick, but oh well.

[monstrpony]

Hell. Just, hell. I cannot imagine being in this situation. I know where my rescue $$ are going.

[Duffy]

OMG - I missed the Snowball story -

How about the guy who swam 8 hours with his dogs to at least a temporarily "safe" place! The dogs were on the rooftop with this group of people.

I wasn't quite sure about the point of the very nice guy who lost his $1 million dollar home who was now reciding in a $44/night Econolodge....He did have two very nice dogs with him. I guess they were pointing out that the tragedy not only hits the poor, but the wealthy as well...

[horseshoe]

SGaHB-
sorry if this seems harsh, but i will absolutely NOT be emailing major news stations. i dont think the best thing to do right now is send criticism from the sunny, safe north. i cant imagine that anyone down there is underestimating the tragedy of the situation and needs a kick in the pants! it just seems so disrespectful to all the people down there suffering and working to help. send money and supplies not criticism.

on a side note:
i also love my pets as much as my human family, but look at it from this perspective. snowball, if allowed on the bus, is a drain on the resources of the rescue mission. not to mention that he would add to the huge sanitation problem. it is just unreasonable to expect the rescuer to sacrifice other peoples' chances survival to save a pet. It is unbelievably sad and a lose-lose situation for all of those involved (snowball, the boy, and policeman), but that is what makes this a tragedy.

[Joanne]

I saw the little dog on the news, also. It looked to me to be a Bichon or Poodle. He/she was so darn cute, I can't image someone not snatching it up immediately.

New Orleans has a zoo, also. I've not heard how they are making out.

[ClemsonGraduateRider]

I did see, last night on the Dateline special, that the NG was allowing people to get on some of the buses with their dogs. They kept repeating footage of a guy getting on a bus with his brindle-esque colored small dog under his arm so I don't know what the policy really is . . .

[buryinghill2]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Briggsie:
I understand the value of human life...but to me, I equate my dogs and horses on the same level as mine. I could in no way, leave Deco behind. That dog has been through so much, and literally never left me behind. He saved my life, how the hell could I do that to him? I love him dearly, and I know I am going to be made fun of for this or people are going to say how can I be so stupid...but I would rather stay and die if it came down to leaving my freaking dog. I would not want to live with that for the rest of my life. I am sure the guilt and depression and anger of the haunting image of leaving him would do me in. I am crying just thinking about it. The bast#$#ds in this country cannot even help people...let alone animals...so I would not leave behind my best friend in the whole world, to leave my life in the hands of them. I would rather stay and die. I love my dog too much. Yeah yeah, I am sick, but oh well. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I do not in any way think you are "stupid". I would not leave my pets behind either. They ARE my family. I to would die with my pets rather than leave them behind to die alone. So if you are crazy or stupid than I guess I am too!

[ise@ssl]

I feel it's unfair to assume that the people charged with RESCUEING AND RELOCATING PEOPLE get some sort of pleasure out of separating people (including children) and their pets.

But get your heads screwed on straight - this isn't about missing the next bus on a field trip - it's about HUMAN SURVIVAL. For those who feel they could never leave their pets behind - that is their choice but dying with your pets might be the result.

We can write and rant for hours about this situation but if you go back over the news information - precious valuable time was lost when the Mayor of New Orleans and (IMHO) the totally disfunctional Governor of Louisiana EXHALED and assumed they were going to be O.K.
Every time that Governor was on TV she looked like she was about to start crying - she's the point person the HAVE A PLAN, assure the people this will be under control and people will be helped. While we can try to pass the buck to the Feds on this - it just doesn't work. EVERY SINGLE STATE IN THE UNION IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE DISASTER PLANS - LARGE CITIES AS WELL. What happened here was NO PLAN - CHAOS LEADING TO ANARCHY. They didn't even declare Martial Law immediately - which would have allowed the police to shoot to kill which would have brought the looting to a halt early.

If you've ever been to New Orleans (as someone who worked in development industry for years) it begs the questions how they could PERMIT construction of homes below the level of surrounding bodies of water using wood frame construction. This isn't rocket science. Homes should have been built on concrete w/steel footings at LEAST 1 1/2 stories high.

Is it tragic that animals died - YOU BET - but there are bodies of PEOPLE floating around the entire region - GET A GRIP. They don't even know how many people are dead or missing.

And there have been NUMEROUS news reports and press releases on how to help with animals - on TV, radio, newspapers and all over the internet including this BB.

Before you point a finger at the people trying to load starving dehydrated homeless people on to transports to a convention center THAT CLEARLY CANNOT ACCOMODATE DOGS - ask yourself what your plan is? Do you have bottled water, canned foods, etc. etc. etc.? If you are planning to take all of your animals - how and to where? If you are planning to stay - do you have food/water etc. to sit it out?

People trying to rescue people don't deserve one word of criticsm. If you feel it's an easy job - VOLUNTEER WITH THE RED CROSS OR SOME OTHER AGENCY AND DO IT.

And to those of you who will not leave your pets and die with them you must not have any other people including children in your life who MUST COME FIRST.

[Erin]

I did see footage of boats unloading people AND dogs, so I don't think they are necessarily just leaving animals. But, let's face it, a boat can only hold so much weight, and if it's a choice of taking a child or a dog... can't blame them.

[DJ]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I would say that the love I have for my animals is equal to the love I have for the members of my family. My cat and my horses are the most important things in my life. I would do ANYTHING for them, including jumping infront of a speeding bus to save them.

I live in a hurricane prone area and we have an evacuation route planned - including my cat. (the horses are far enough away from storm-surge or main damage) We throw an overnight bag in the car, grab the cat, cat litter and cat food and drive like a bat out of hell. We have family up north, I have friends out west... we get in the car and take the ENTIRE family to safety-- that includes the cat. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Well here is a major difference between you and many of the people that have been vicitmized by this storm. You have a plan because you care about the lives entrusted to your care. Heck I saw one news interview the night before the storm came in with a woman and her 3 year old daughter. They were going to ride the storm out on her boyfriends SHRIMP boat! They are all probably dead now. I couldn't believe that while they might not value their own lives that they would put that precious little girl in harm's way. Her face, so trusting, haunts me.

I understand that there were some truly indigent people living in New Orleans, but some were just foolish that stayed. I am so sad that I couldn't or their local government couldn't override the people's bad judgemnent and just get them out of there. They had like what 3 days warning?

And now, an NBC reporter sees all of these buses and ambulances lined up outside of town. So he goes to them and asks, "why don't you go in and help, we can get in with our crews?" The answer was that they wouldn't, it was not safe to do so and that they had promised their wife not to go in. It's not like its a freaking war zone, these are our citizens and neighbors!

I am sad for the animals, but the human tragedy is SO overwhelming. (Part of that is the pain of the loss of pets)

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

Well, of course we all have varying opinions as to the value we place on animals, the rescue efforts, etc. I started this post not to critcize the news media or to inundate them with nasty e-mails. I just want them to follow up with any animal rescue that may be occuring, encourage further animal rescues, shed the light on the trauma of leaving pets behind (both to owners & their pets), & spread the word as to any available pet rescue operations that may need assistance either bodily or financially. Lets just all continue to pray daily for all affected, both animals & people. I am one of those people who could not leave my animals no matter what. They are my children. Period. I do respect other's values as we all have to make our own choices & live with the choices we make.

[horseshoe]

"But get your heads screwed on straight - this isn't about missing the next bus on a field trip - it's about HUMAN SURVIVAL. For those who feel they could never leave their pets behind - that is their choice but dying with your pets might be the result."

Yes i agree, if you refuse to be separated from your pet that is your choice to make, but you must risk YOUR life to do it not the lives of OTHERS.

"Is it tragic that animals died - YOU BET - but there are bodies of PEOPLE floating around the entire region - GET A GRIP. They don't even know how many people are dead or missing. "

edited...sorry we posted at the same time. i think rallying support for the animals down there is wonderful and very needed, i am just trying to say that a lot of tact is necessary to avoid placing additional guilt on the policemen (or anyone else down there) for the extremely difficult choices they are having to make. I'm sure everyone living through this hell will be haunted by thier choices for a long time...

[trailblazer]

The choice is simple for me. I would sooner die than leave my dog behind. As much as I would hate to, I would leave the horses. But never the dog.

We should be careful not to blame the rescue workers, who were just doing their jobs. They are in no position to be worrying about animals. And I doubt they would take the time to make sure these animals get to shelters. They have enough to worry about.

As tragic as it is for people to not be able to take their animals along, this is the choice they made. If I had to give up my dog to get on the bus to Texas, without a second though I would not get on that bus. I can understand how someone would put their life above that of their dogs, but if this is the decision they choose to make, let's not blame the rescue workers who are already overworked in the face of this disaster.