I saw a vet on TV last night talking about the emotional effect the disaster has had on the animals. She is in charge of a lot of displaced creatures, and she says the dogs revert to pack mentality in a very short time.

She also had at least 4 horses that are refugees from the flooding.

A picture in my local paper showed two people and their dogs rescued by a johnny-boat. So at least now they are letting people bring their pets out with them. I sat with my dogs this morning and I don't think I could leave them behind in that situation. They've proven their loyalty; I've no doubt they'd give their lives for me. I can only say that about a few family members and my military buddies.

I don't understand how anyone in their right mind could try to part a pet from its owner, or leave animals used to being taken care of on their own to fend for themselves (I mean swim through filth). On the other hand, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of care that came from groups like the ASPCA. And sites like yours that encourage giving. We may not agree politically, but I certainly commend you on your compassion.

We have a little "Toto" type lap dog that my wife found half drowned and lost during a storm about 10 years ago. He has terrible thunder phobia to this day and starts panicking 10 minutes before the humans ever hear anything; probably from that old storm, though I've also heard that some dogs are just born with that phobia..

Hey, I keep hearing snatches of reports about horses roaming around NO-- any one heard what the deal is?

I was reading a biographical-type article about the head of the Hernando County Humane Society. She said if someone told her she'd have to leave her animals she'd say, "No sale" and they'd all walk. This was interesting because I read about a family with six dogs in shopping carts at a bus pick up point at a highway ramp in LA. They got that offer too, and they just headed off, pushing their carts filled with dogs down the road.

One big change with the storms here in Florida last year -- almost every county has a pet-friendly hurricane shelter. Somebody did learn a thing or two about human nature.

Carl- I know they are quartering mules and horses at a fairground in NO, but haven't heard of any being in the streets. They can't be in water too long because their hooves can't take it.

I haven't read about a celeb doing a major drive, and I'm not sure how you feel about PETA, but Pamela Anderson's official web site funnels money to that group, and PETA has a donation drive underway right now for HK animal relief. I know the right disdains Hollywood liberal involvement. But I think our combined love of animals crosses party lines. And I'm sure we'll hear more from animal lovers like Drew and Sandra Bullock (who gave a million after 911 and another mill after the Tsunami). Fingers crossed. BTW, found your site awhile ago. Thanks for your great humorous posts. And for taking in your latest "three legged" addition.

I really don't like PETA. They're a mile wide and an inch deep. I don't like their extremism, their grandstanding, or their antics. It's the Hollywood PETA supporters that I'm poking at.

As an unsophisticated redneck, the organizations I admire are the chronically underfunded and UNCHIC ones who are coping everyday with millions of unwanted pets. They do this year after year, decade after decade.
I admire Bob Barker who used his gameshow five days a week since forever to tell people to get their pets spayed or neutered. He also funds low-cost spaying and neutering programs.
That's loving animals, because spaying and neutering is the key to the whole problem.

My Shiloh was picked up off the street, emaciated, covered in sores, with a big gash in her head, and with her second litter of puppies. The agency who did her the kindness of rescuing her from her situation will never have celebs posing naked for them in advertising campaigns. They spend the money alloted to them on the thankless task of dealing with dogs like Shiloh. They're County Animal Control.

In my opinion, the groups that are doing the grunt work, with their sleeves rolled up, hosing crap out of cages, and taking in yet another pregnant abandonned dog, are not the sort that attract big-tittied starlets.

To those in Hollywood who do look the situation in the eye and do their part to help all these unwanted dogs and cats, my hat's off to them. As with the case of Drew Barrymore, who chose to throw in her lot with the unglamorous ASPCA, I'll say a big thank you.

Hannity & Colmes on FNC is going to be doing a segment on the pet rescue effort in the next 1/2 hour. I started crying when I read the Best Friends reports on their website today.

Keep in mind that some of the pets people won't part with are snakes, rabbits, pigs, horses, etc. Do you want your child (or chihuahua) sharing a boat with a pit bull who hasn't eaten in 5 days?