Fascinating pictures from the Houston Chronicle

[TXN in WA]

Good luck to everyone out there - I recall evacuating for Rita in '05 and couldn't imagine trying do do so now. Stay safe!!!

http://www.chron.com/news/photogallery/Hurricane_Ike_approaches.html

[Bluebear]

1. OMG --- don't do this to them

Two dogs were left in a backyard in San Leon Friday as the storm surge from Hurricane Ike rose.

[malaise]

3. Damn people are cruel

:cry:

[tpsbmam]

4. Oh god....

sometimes I truly hate humans....this is one of them. My heart is breaking.

[tblue]

17. Sarah would probably shoot them.

[spin]

7. Far too often shelters don't provide for animals...

When the local government tells you to evacuate, you have a choice, leave the animals behind or stay with them. You may be able to find lodging at at hotel that will accept animals, but not all do.

If you're wise the best choice is to sacrifice the animals and live to own more. If you consider the animals part of your family, you can't visualize leaving them behind to face the terror of a storm. So you stay and take the risk. I've made that decision myself and while it was fortunate that I survived, it was foolish.

I noticed that during the evaluation of New Orleans for Gustaf an effort was made to save animals:

Hurricane Gustav's evacuation and the response from local, state, and federal government agencies is improving. With billions in property losses and the utter emotional devastation of losing a loved one, an effort has been made to evacuate the forgotten family pet. In 2005, the decomposing bodies of thousands of pets left behind during Hurricane Katrina was a sight not easy to accept. The losses for those in Katrina's wake were compounded by losing everything...including beloved animals. Now, in preparation for Hurricane Gustav, thousands of pets have been fitted with special identity collars before being shipped away trucks to animal shelters away from the coast. Due to the Pet Evacuation Bill, the evacuations for Gustav prove a little less damaging to the heart.
http://weather.about.com/b/2008/09/01/hurricane-gustav-pet-evacuations-no-animal-left-behind.htm

I seriously believe all efforts should be made to save animals from the fury of a storm when an evaluation is ordered. Not only would the animals survive, but also the owners who then would chose to leave.

[catgirl]

14. You forgot one choice- taking them

I have several dogs. There are numerous options out there for lodging. Many hotels/motels accept
pets. You can rent a cabin somewhere. You can rent an SUV and sleep in it. If there's a will, there's
a way.

There is a difference between this storm and Katrina. The flooding in 2005 wasn't expected. In this case,
it was well publicized that the storm surge would be deadly. "Certain death" in Galveston if you stay, is
what the authorities were saying. That means certain death for your pets too.

These dogs don't even have shelter! They don't stand a chance. This is criminal. They don't deserve
to have anymore dogs in the future. I'm sorry, I don't get your theory (at all).

[spin]

20. In the past it was far more difficult to plan for animals...

when you had to evacuate. Many people did stay with their pets and some lost their lives. Local governments are finally beginning to understand that people do see pets as part of their family and some local governments are making attempts to care for the animals.

After my first experience with being ordered to evacuate many years ago, I learned to make arrangements for my pets long before a hurricane threatened. I would contact my veterinarian at the beginning of hurricane season and make reservations to board my animals in case of an evacuation. On several occasions I did board my animals as a storm approached.

That first time, I decided to stay and ride the storm out. The storm was Elena a force 3 hurricane. The year was 1985. My failure to plan ahead put my life and the life of my family at risk. Fortunately the hurricane never came any closer than 80 miles from us as it wandered around in the Gulf of Mexico. I guessed right but had the storm hit Tampa, I would have probably ended up in the attic of my home. I lived in a flood zone.

While I feel your criticism of the people who left the dogs behind is fair, I would like to know more about the owners before making judgment. How big was the family? What type of vehicles did they have at hand? Were they on vacation leaving the dogs behind in the care of a neighbor?

My main point was that communities should make arrangements to care for animals when they make their hurricane plans. Then when they order an evacuation, people will have a safe place for their animals.

[liberalmuse]

8. Goddamn it. People suck!

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. Yes they do!

x( Bet those pups would not have left their owners. Loyal to the end, dogs are. People not so much.

[catgirl]

10. The owners should be charged with animal cruelty

and killing their pets. How are they going to survive this storm?

[beam me up scottie]

12. I hate us.

As a species we totally suck.

I could never leave my animals behind.

How could you live with yourself, knowing that they would be frantically searching for you, waiting for you to help them?

[tandot]

18. There is a thread about those dogs:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3987303

[Barack_America]

2. OMG! Those dogs!

What the fuck is wrong with people?!?!

:cry:

[DCKit]

5. "Residents say it has never flooded bad enough for them to evacuate..."

After all the crazy weather we've had over the past two decades... I have no words.

[Suich]

6. Those are awesome pics! n/t

Edited because I answered my own question.

[Beausoir]

9. Incredible photos. I fear that this will be a massive event.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. great pics...great link

Pics of flooded areas, people walking around hip deep water hours before the storm even comes in, people who say they are going to stay despite warnings of very high storm surge, and full moon/high tides.
Jim Cantore on Weather Channel this minute is spluttering, almost speechless trying to describe the inanity of people who are staying in Galveston.

Sheesh.

[Oeditpus Rex]

15. WTF is this??

"We're gonna kick this storm's ASS! USA! USA! USA!"

[uppityperson]

16. k&r, makes me sick. Good luck to all.

[gristy]

19. I like this one

The guy is indeed clowning around. Great picture. :)