Katrina pointed out a problem like no other storm in history: what to do about people with pets. The problem surfaced because so many were stuck in the path of the storm because no accommodation was made for pets. Most shelters won't allow pets even small ones in travel carriers, and most travel lodging forbids the nasty critters. The few that do quickly fill leaving the evacuee with a pet no place at the Inn, and they know this will be the case, so why bother.

What to do, what to do?

Current thought is accommodate accommodate, and do that in every way caring people of authority who are media-conscious can think of, although much thought buffered by experience went into the old current policy. Elected or appointed people who care don't care about that. They simply want to avoid ever being caught on camera being asked, "Why wasn't something done about the poor dumb animals?"

Nature will take care of the poor dumb animals and their ignorant-assed owners if we let her. I think we should, but I can't say I thought that before trying to help ten of them. I did feel sorry for them and was angered by the community that ignored them and abandoned them, focusing all available resources on saving the tax-paying people. That did seem cold and heartless, stingy and spiteful, cruel and unusual. In my 20/20 hindsight, seems pretty damn smart. I could have died trying to help those idiots.

No, I don't hate animals. I love animals. I hate people, not all people but enough of them to make that a generalization. I mostly hate people in crowds, in traffic, and on game shows that have them wearing silly costumes in a desparate attempt to be noticed in a big crowd of silly idiots. I like the people on Jeopardy. You will never find those people trying to get into a community storm shelter with two pit bulls and a featherless parrot. In traffic, they let you in and wave in passing. Then again, if you break down, only the silly idiots will stop to help you.

Here's the grist for your thought mill:

Why should "we the people" be burdened by your pet, especially in a time of great crises and emergency when your pet will, at the very least, be a distraction and in all likelihood, a very annoying one?

Why devote any resources to helping pets survive in a community infested with domesticated animals, and what community isn't?

Why can't pet owners who live near the coast plan ahead and factor in hurricanes? Why is it that the people who don't always have three or more, or one that is really big and difficult, or unsocial and undisciplined, or begging extinction.

Why do all of the responsible pet owners leave and take their pets with them, leaving all of the irresponsible to face the media.

Why do all dead, dying, or cold 'n wet dogs look like good dogs like you have?

Why are there no dead cats after a hurricane?

Why do animal lovers flock to a disaster to trample over the bodies of people in an effort to get to the cold puppy, or the wet cat, or starving horse perched on a roof?

Why can't we all get along?

Things are going to change and the change, in my opinion, will not be good. Pets will be allowed in community storm shelters, and this will be a disaster, because good people will spend a few hours in that loud smelly hell hole and opt to return to an unsafe home. Responsible people will die so that the pets of irresponsible owners may live. The good die; the bad live; Nature is thwarted. It is survival of the loudest and dumbest. That ain't right.

Disaster responders and emergency managers need to remain focused on people. Let pet owners worry about their pets. Leave pet owning people to do something or do nothing, or get with animal lovers to find a solution, but "WE the people" should NOT be burdened in ANY way by YOUR GOD DAMN ANIMAL!

I swear to NEVER try to save another silly idiot.