I read in our local paper this morning that FEMA policy dictates
that no pets will be rescued. Volunteers working under the FEMA
umbrella are forbidden to take even one pet aboard their boats and
other rescue vehicles. With an evacuation by force policy soon to
be put into effect, the FEMA policy needs to be changed ASAP.
According to the news report, the main reason people are refusing to
be evacuated is that they will not leave their pets to die. Sadly,
the people and their pets may be condemned to death due to the
infectious nature of the flood waters coupled with the lack of
sanitation and basic services, food, etc. There are pet shelters
set up in the Baton Rouge area and areas to the west, so there are
places for these pets to stay after rescue.

I am suggesting that each and everyone of you contact your
congressional delegation and urge them to force FEMA to change this
policy. I cannot think of any other method. If you have a better
idea, do it. Please cross post. An outpouring of e-mail from pet
lovers to the U.S. Congress on this issue may work.