Pets Not Left Behind in New Orleans Evacuation

When Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana coastline three years ago, many pets were either left behind or perished from the effects of the hurricane. The familiar scene of dead dogs floating in flood waters was devastating to pet owners all across the United States. Fortunately, this time when Hurricane Gustav battered New Orleans, the pets were not left in the wake of the destruction.

This occasion, the powers that be are making reparation with the furry friends of the residents of New Orleans. While they are emptying the population from New Orleans in front of Hurricane Gustav, they are also evacuating the thousands of pets instead of letting them perish like they did three years ago. Animal welfare associations endeavored to make certain that evacuees brought along their pets, while shelters further north from the Gulf Coast provided accommodations for these animals this time around.

Sadly, many pet owners waited in New Orleans during the disastrous 2005 hurricane, for the reason that they were not allowed to bring along their pets with them to shelter and could not tolerate to evacuate with them. I identify with these people totally since I have five dogs of my own that are like my children. If this had happened to me, I would have stayed also.

According to Laura Bergerol, a volunteer with Animal Rescue New Orleans, "This city has been hit so badly, they've lost so much, and the last thing they have to hold on to is their animal."

The volunteer group piled up boxes for residents who intended to take their small pets with them when they fled New Orleans on trains and buses throughout the Union Passenger station. The people were allowed to have their pets next to them on the trains and buses.

Owners of pets stood in line to sign up their furry friends. They were then handed a machine readable band to attach to their pet, for fear that they became estranged.

Since 80 percent of New Orleans was flooded, dead dogs bobbing in the drowned streets of the city were among the dreadfulness of Katrina three years ago. I saw those videos of this on television and my heart broke and tears flowed. It was pathetic.

Another way of pet evacuation was humane officers carrying crated dogs and cats to an air conditioned waiting tractor trailer that was bound for Shreveport, Louisiana. The evacuation arrangement mandated that tractor trailers of crated pets and bus loads of pet owners were both to travel to the same location. They would then be domiciled in suitable amenities until the storm passed.

I am so relieved and pleased that this time; many small pets will be alive and not dead like last time. They will be with their owners where they belong.