pet connection

Instead of ignoring animals during a disaster, officials and the media now pay attention. Maybe it’s not all we would want, especially considering that helping people care for their pets means helping people, period. But there’s no doubt that in my couple of decades as a pet-care writer, things have changed a great deal.

How much? Consider this: I remember in the ’80s at a national conference for shelter workers, a representative for an animal advocacy group offered this disaster advice: Open a bag of food, fill the tub with water … and leave your pets behind.

Up to a few years ago, while animal advocacy groups were no longer giving such advice, emergency response experts were. Katrina changed everything for good, as officials realized that they had to deal with the reality that people will risk their own lives rather than abandon their pets. An ah-ha moment: Caring for animals means helping people.

And then there’s this, a MSNBC.com piece about the current humane crisis in the Gulf. Why is it different? It’s written by a senior editor, Mike Stuckey. I will guarantee you that no media outlet would have “wasted” such a staffer on “just animals” a decade or so ago. From the article:

The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is spearheading efforts to rescue cats, dogs and other pets in coordination with the Galveston Island Humane Society, Brazoria County SPCA and the Bay Area SPCA of San Leon, said spokeswoman Stacy Fox.

Habitat for Horses, which also saved animals after Katrina in 2005, has put rescue efforts ahead of salvage and repair operations at its own 27-acre facility, which was “completely decimated,” according to spokeswoman Valerie Kennedy. “All the shelters for the horses there on the site have been flattened,” including a new barn that was funded through years of careful saving by the nonprofit, donor-funded organization. “It’s bad. All their hay and stuff was completely ruined.” Thankfully, she said, none of the 60 horses at the ranch and awaiting adoption was injured when Ike hit.

Here’s the rest. People and animals are hurting. Can we all help?

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Pet Connection BFF Dr. Patty Khuly is on a roll again, with some really good posts over on Dolittler. In particular, be sure to read her recent posts on Xylitol poisoning, cat declaws and cat-bite absesses. … Dr. Eric Barchas, Dogster’s vet blogger, takes the AVMA to task over factory farming. The California VMA supports California’s Prop. 2, the Humane Faming Act (as do I), but the AVMA does not.

In the aftermath of the BBC documentary about health problems in purebred dogs, the RSPCA and the Dog’s Trust have both pulled out of the biggest dog show in the world, the Kennel Club’s Cruft’s show. … Smartdogs has a, well, smart post about temperament testing dogs in shelters. Dogs are smarter than the fake-hand people give them credit for. … more as my fingers can fly …

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