if I go, They go - Hurricane Katrina Pet Refugees

Get a shirt. Save a Life. Thousands of family pets struggled on the streets of New Orleans. This film documents their plight and rescue. You can help us raise funds to care for pet refugees and raise awareness for the need for emergency pet preparedness

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Dogs
• Pets
• Rescue
• Hurricane
• Katrina
• animal
• shelter
• spay
• neuter
• Abandoned
• Refugees
• New
• Orleans

[Thulgore]

I don't have a dog or cat, I can honestly say however, that in an instance where I was told,"You can't take your pet." in a rescue scenario. I could not leave without. I still tear up over a dog I had to give up 12 years ago. I was homeless and she ended up with a loving and wonderful family. It still destroys me that I missed the rest of her life though. No love nor loyalty amongst human have I viewed that came even close to that of a special pet.

[DogsAreMyLife]

Happymike44:

Your story is a sad one - but I am glad you and Rex survived and that you were able to keep your family together. I agree with you: the police/military are NOT your friend, EVER! Look after Rex and stay healthy and happy. I congratulate you Sir!

[AnimalsLover76]

I love the animal rescuers,God is blessing your work, bless you all!

Hey, the rescuer girl with blue shirt, she's in the extras of my Marley dvd!

[SamStJ1987]

My pets are like my kids and I just couldn't leave them. God Bless the people and animals who had to go through that.

[krugerfuchs]

@texasboy5680 thanks for your answer 

[texasboy5680]

@krugerfuchs They were left behind cause our pet laws..no animals were food is served...animals must be on leashes and have identification while in public, no animals on public transportation and so on and so on...They didn't use their brains and realize that these were unusual circumstances..only after Katrina did the government pass a law saying all those laws DO NOT apply to areas facing a disaster & ALL states are required to provided evacuation to all pets and owners or face no FEMA relief.

[texasboy5680]

@sohcsarewicked We do it to finally....Only took 600,000 animals to die in New Orleans for us to finally realize that something was wrong... We now have the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Safety Act which requires states seeking FEMA assistance to accommodate pets in their plans for evacuating residents facing disasters, so now shelters, planes, buses and rescue helicopters have to rescue the pet w/ the owner instead of rescuing the owner and telling them no pets allowed..

[lmonique72]

Wow what heartbreaking nightmare for the dogs and their families!!. And shame on the government for alowing this!! Please tell me they have evacuation plans for pets since the Katrinas Tragedy

[texasboy5680]

I still dont understand to this day why they wouldn't allow pets on the evacuation planes/buses....they are family members too...I would rather walk/swim out of a flooded ruined city to safety w/ my Pomeranian than leave her to die in the city that was deemed inhabitable...I GO THEY GO!!!!!

[sohcsarewicked]

@happymike44 thats very sad , it looks like they do it differnt in japan

[Mom2Patches]

I guess my hubby and I would be shot!! I couldnt imagine leaving my five doxies to die! They are family! Bless those that saved what animals they could. God will bless you in return for helping his animals.

[happymike44]

@rockstarxxbebe

I am sorry to tell you that the animals were forbidden in shelters.

The troopers and sheriffs took household pets and shot them or turned them loose to die from exposure.

No one willing left a pet behind during evacuation they were forced at gunpoint to get on a bus and leave a family member behind.

I lived there I survived Katrina and I didn't allow anyone to take my service dog from me I would rather have died then leave Rex behind.

Dogs make life bearable period.