As the hurricanes settle down in the south, numbers of abandoned pets are rising. Through Harvey and Irma, hundreds of animals have been left at shelters, and in some instances left inside the home to fin for themselves. A big question arising with that is simply “Why?”
When searching for an answer, the most common excuse that pops up are the banning of pets in hotel rooms. Many families are focused on getting out as fast as possible and going to extreme lengths to make that happen. When looking for a place to stay that will keep them safe, the “no pets allowed” rule doesn’t hold them back.
(photo by 911 Foster Pets) Although this is the reasoning behind a lot of abandoned pets, it is not the only one. Space plays an extreme role when fleeing. Many times a car has to hold essentials for an entire family, and Butch, the family dog, can potentially take up a large amount of that. With this all being said, here are a few things people can do to help their pets through this time:
- “If the hurricane isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for your pet” -Thinking about the right decision to make with what to do with a pet can be hard, but holding your pet to the same circumstances as you, it makes the decision a little easier.
- Find family to stay with –Often times people have family in other locations, and finding a home to stay in eliminates the risk of “no pets allowed”.
- Plan ahead –Procrastination in a situation so detrimental can be the difference of finding that hotel with pets allowed, or even a family member whose home hasn’t filled up already. Use your time wisely!