Evacuating - An Emotional Trauma

Animals are dear to the hearts of our readers, so we would like to share this open letter to Louisiana officials as Hurricane season races at us.  This is about legislation that will provide for the evacuation of pets during hurricanes. If the world is watching, the LA state government will do the right thing. 

Nel Liquorman, Health Editor / TheDogPress © August 2006 - An open letter to Louisiana's Governor Blanco, Commissioner Le Blanc and Senators

Abandoning everything that you own, all you have worked for, life as you know it, all your everyday joys, that is real emotional trauma.  If you live in a flood zone and a hurricane comes, all your choices are gone with the wind.  It is not unlike having all your American liberties taken from you, and your very roots to the earth severed.

For many people, pets are much more than animals that live in the house.  They are family; they are all the emotional support that some people have.  Please don't add guilt to this devastating mix by forcing your citizens to leave their pets behind.  Many will choose to die with their pets rather than make a heartbreaking choice.   A pet is a lifetime commitment for the life of the animal, and animal lovers take this commitment very seriously.  For these people, leaving a pet behind during a hurricane is like abandoning a child.  Is this sometime to be encouraged?

Abandoning an unwanted pet is not acceptable in many states, so how can a state possible make abandonment mandatory in an emergency?

Louisiana is still in America, being able to save your pet from disaster should not just be for the elite few.  Please make the saving of as many lives as possible the order of the day.

Nell Liquorman lives in a coastal flood zone on the west coast of Florida, has evacuated many times but has always been able to provide safe evacuation for her pets.

CATS (Californians for Alternatives to Toxics) has commended her for her pesticide-free alternative for managing fleas.  Her articles have been published by ANIMAL WELLNESS MAGAZINE, VEGETARIAN BABY MAGAZINE, Las Vegas News, Alachua Post, Independent Media, The Dog Press, and many others.

Akron Beacon Journal staff writer, the well known Connie Bloomer interviewed and quoted Nell in a column on bathing a cat.

http://www.thedogpress.com/Columns/Evacuation-Trauma-0608_Liquorman.asp