Katrina Animals - Our Red Hot Rage

» Joy Butler - Re: Thank you so much, Joy!

The HSUS is a good organization to donate to. My donations went to Best Friends, as well as relief for local evacuee families.

I'm hopeful that we learned from hurricane Katrina. Pets have been given more consideration in hurricane Rita. I've also heard that there are federal plans in the making.

-- posted by Joy Butler

» Joy Butler - Re: Re: Thank you so much, Joy!

Sometimes just 30 seconds of our time can help a lot. And Jill, I really envy you going to Best Friends! I support them and get their magazine. I would love to go volunteer with them in Utah.

-- posted by Joy Butler

» Joy Butler - Re: Pets

Thanks for reading, Mary. I think changes are coming about because of Katrina.

-- posted by Joy Butler

» Joy Butler - Re: Precious lives

Mari, I know exactly what you mean. It didn't have to happen. But all we can do is try to ensure it never happens again. I believe more pets were evacuated from Rita. I was one of those backed up in traffic on the highway and it seemed almost every car had pets. I saw dogs in crates, cats on leashes and horses in trailers. I had my own four dogs in crates in the back of my van and had to water them often in the heat of backed up traffic, but we made it. I'm glad I thought to take bottled water.

In one area a vet clinic had even put up a quick homemade sign on the highway telling evacuees, "Pet Watering Station". It seemed everyone wanted to help in any way they could.

I heard that more shelters and hotels were taking in people with pets too.

-- posted by Joy Butler

» Joy Butler - Re: A Voice

Thanks for signing the petition. Yes, it was hard to write the article but I had to say it.

All is well with me. We did evacuate and the trip was grueling. Backed up traffic in the heat, gas was hard to find and when you did, you had to wait in a long line, the trip that should have taken 7 hours took 16, but it all ended with a nice visit at my daughter's in Dallas.

And the storm went east of us so our house wasn't affected and we're now back. After all we went through, I wasn't sure if I should be relieved or upset. lol

-- posted by Joy Butler

» Renie_Burghardt - Re: Re: A Voice

Joy, I am very relieved to read that you and your animals made it to your daughter's safely, though it took 16 hours, and are now home again, and well. You were in my thoughts and prayers, as I watched the news. I'll be going to the retailer in my area that carries the Chicken Soup pet food (50 miles away) and look for your story, (mine as well)soon.

And yes, this article had to be written! I could never leave my animals behind!

Good to see you posting. Take care.

Renie

-- posted by Renie_Burghardt

» Joy Butler - Re: Re: Re: A Voice

Hi Renie! Thank you for the prayers! After that grueling trip, we did have a wonderful visit at my daughter's. She took good care of all of us. You should have seen us...it was wild. She has 2 dogs and a cat of her own and I had my 4 dogs and my son also had his cat! We looked like the humane society but she has a nice country home with a big shaded yard so everyone enjoyed it. Looking back we will choose to remember the bonus vacation that Rita gave us, rather than the trip.

I suppose you got some rain from Rita. I have a CS retailer about 3 blocks from my house but I still haven't seen my story or yours....maybe they're running behind schedule.

-- posted by Joy Butler

» _Boanerges_ - Re: Re: A Voice

the trip that should have taken 7 hours took 16, but it all ended with a nice visit at my daughter's in Dallas

Ah.. that is wonderful news, Joy.....
Glad to see you back in 'full ready mode'....
I am so happy that all worked out well

I was in the worlds longest traffic jam! I was living in France at the time and we were coming back from Nice. It was August 31... We found out why that date is a big big no no.....

We got to Lyon, which was about a 4 hr drive. When we left Lyon for our 4 hr drive to Paris, we ran into an estimated 5 million people (2 million cars ?) standing idle on the highway.. What was a normal 4 hr trip, took nearly 20hrs.... So, I understand what you mean.....

glad to have ya back.... Welcome back

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» Joy Butler - Re: Re: Re: A Voice

Thank you, Wendell. Sounds like your trip in France was even worse than mine! What caused 5 million people to be on the highway at the same time?

-- posted by Joy Butler

» Joy Butler - Update on Animals in Disaster Response

An email update today from Best Friends stated that Representatives Tom Lantos and Christopher Shays, co-chairs of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus, have introduced a bill that will require the federal government to include the needs of animals in their disaster plans.

Let's hope it passes.

-- posted by Joy Butler