Gustav took my Inara and Orion.

[Behind the Aegis]

On Sunday, August 31st, like 2 million other residents of Southern Louisiana, I, my partner, Voodoo (long-haired chihuahua), Tony (cat), Willow (Blue-headed pious parrot), Ceasar and Tzarina, and their three babies (Black-masked African lovebirds), and 18 finches/small birds fled New Orleans. We left at 6:15am. We did not find shelter until 9am the following day in Carollton, GA. We drove 26 hours straight, well Mr. BTA and I drove, the others rode along. For 26 hours, we were all crammed in a Toyota Corolla. We stopped a number of times to try and find lodging to no avail. The entire states of Mississippi and Alabama (we fled east) were without a single available room.

During some of our stops, I would ask if they had available rooms, and I was asked if I had a reservation. :wtf: Who calls in a reservation for a hurricane evacuation?! How in the hell are you supposed to even know where you are going to end up or even when you will arrive? At one point, it took us three hours to drive 15 miles! Anyway, once we found a place to stay, we got everyone in the room and discovered Inara, an orange weaver, did not survive the journey. She had been with us for almost 3 years to the day. The other animals were visibly upset and agitated. Tony, the cat, immediately hid in the room once we let him out of his carrier. Voodoo shook until he could get into bed with us. Willow was just plain pissed off and plucked at her cage bars.

We rested for two days, then decided to head back toward New Orleans. We decided to go to Birmingham and wait there until we were allowed re-entrance to New Orleans. We were in B'ham all of one day before Mr. BTA's work demanded he return to NOLA. So, we had to pack everyone up and drive home. We arrived in NOLA at 3am Friday morning. It was then we discovered we had lost Orion, a male Society finch. We also had him for almost three years to the day. In less than a week, I had lost two animals that had been a part of our lives for three years. I was relieved to see we only had debris in the yard and our flag pole had been destroyed, I was upset by the loss of my pets. What was even more upsetting was the attitude from hotels about my pets; they wouldn't take them even though we had been forced to leave our home. I was told I should have left them at home, I could leave them in the car, or keep driving until I found a pet-friendly hotel. I am so disgusted now by some places, I think I may never stay at hotel UNLESS they accept pets, even if I don't have my babies with me. The only time I would amend that rule is if there was another evacuation from another place and I didn't have my animals, then I would give up my room so another with pets could have it.

Now, I have to possibly prepare for Ike. I have already started plotting routes and looking for pet-friendly hotels along the way. I am just afraid another trip will cost me more pets and more tears.

Goodbye Inara and Orion.

[japple]

1. Godspeed your little feathered ones to birdie paradise. Inara

and Orion had a good long life with you and you should be proud that you gave them such good care. I hope you don't have to evacuate ever again, but it sounds like you were organized and able to make the best decisions possible for your family and your menagerie during this traumatic event. Thanks for sharing your story.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Thanks for your kind words.

Sadly, it looks like we may have to go thru this again if Ike keeps to his path, the bastard. Fingers crossed we don't have to go though this again so soon.

[Systematic Chaos]

2. I really feel for you, Behind the Aegis.

I hope Ike will either miss you totally or just glance by with a rainband or two and no serious wind.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Thanks, but sadly, it looks like Ike may slap us in the face!

I hope, like you, it goes away to hurricane hell, but I have to be prepared to split again.

[IndyOp]

3. I am sorry. I like your idea of only staying at pet friendly hotels even if traveling

without pets. If enough of us made choices on that basis and told the hotels why we were choosing them over other establishments that could make a difference.

:hug:

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Thank you.

I was so upset with those places for not taking us in, but I was as upset that rooms were taken by those without pets when other places were available. To me, it is like taking a handicapped parking place when you have no disability, you (generic) just don't want to walk too far. I mean seriously, who has a heart and can turn this away....

[IndyOp]

11. All of your pets are small, too -- Voodoo is tiny. If hotels won't take your little

ones then they definitely would not take big dogs like my Golden Retriever (94 lbs) and Chocolate Lab (74 lbs).

I am glad you are taking time to research pet-friendly accommodations now just in case you need them.

:hug:

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Yes, my babies are tiny.

Voodoo is only 3 lbs. The cat is bigger! We were able to get everyone in the back of a Toyota Corolla, so they don't take up huge amounts of space. Once we did find some pet friendly hotels, I did see big dogs, like yours. I highly recommend the Baymont Suites and Inns (in Birmingham, Alabama). It may not be a five star, but it is clean, fairly well-maintained, and most importantly, allow for pets. A word of caution, they charge $10 a night per pet. It cost me $80 for two nights (they didn't charge me fore every finch..thank G-d!).

Also, to anyone else reading this; not all pet-friendly hotels are actually "pet-friendly" they are only DOG-friendly. Do make sure if you have pets, other than dogs, this includes cats, that all your babies can stay.

[livetohike]

4. I'm so sorry for you loss....

:hug: It's such a stressful trip for everyone. So many places are so insensitive to visitors with pets. My dogs are each over 50 lbs. I have sneaked them into several places that allow pets, but only if they are under 20 lbs. It's disgusting.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Thank you.

It is hard to believe that in a country with so many homes having at least one pet that the hotel industry can be so callous, especially in dire straights. Right now, we are watching Ike and seeing which way that bastard is going. I am afraid I will have to do this all over again! :(

[Eurobabe]

9. I am so sorry BTA

that you lost your feathered-friends. You'd think that hotels would bend the rules in times of emergencies. Let us know who the chain was and we can write them a nasty letter. :hug:

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Thanks for the support.

The difficult thing about the hotels is some are from the same company. Some allowed pets and others didn't, so it makes for a tricky situation. I also was under the impression (wrongly, it seems) that rules were to be bent in case of a mandatory evacuation. As it stands now, it looks like we have to prepare for round two and I am NOT looking forward to this at all!

:hug:

I should have taken more pictures. (I know you from the photo group). It was an astonishing sight to see rows and rows of red tail lights for as far as the eye could see while getting out of NOLA. Or, pulling into a rest stop, usually they are not full, to find 300+ cars, almost all with Louisiana plates.

[Eurobabe]

16. This has been a scary, bad season

Do take care, and I hope that you find a place this time that will allow you to bring your poor storm weary selves and pets into safety. :grouphug:

I rode out Hurricane Alicia in 1983 south of Houston, and I would never do that again. It was one of the most frightening evenings of my life, tornadoes one after another from 1am-5am. We were scared to death!

Be safe!!

[blondeatlast]

10. I'm so sorry. My heart is with you all.

:hug:

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Thanks so much!

:hug:

[BrklynLiberal]

15. Awww. That is so sad....tragedy upon tragedy.

Glad your home was left intact...

There are websites that list pet-friendly hotels..
Here check out these hits....

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pet+friendly+travel.com&aq=2&oq=pet+friendly+travel


http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/?page=pet_shelters#LA
New Orleans
The LA/SPCA is the designated support agency overseeing pet evacuation and rescue functions for the city of New Orleans and the Office of Homeland Security. The LA/SPCA joined with city, parish, state and federal agencies to develop operational procedures to care for companion animals before, during, and after a hurricane or other disaster. Households must pre-register with the City of New Orleans if they will need assistance. However, evacuees with pets utilizing city assistance are not guaranteed space on transport or at shelters.

Pet owners may call for information or to request assistance by calling 311, or 1-877-286-6431. There is no limit to the number of pets. The service is free to Orleans Parish residents, but they must meet certain criteria. It is only available to people who do not own a mode of transportation or the mode of transportation is too small to accommodate the entire family. Further Information.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

17. I'm so sorry

What a horrendous situation for you. :hug:

[alstephenson]

18. I'm so sorry for your loss.

What a sad story. R.I.P., sweet Inara and Orion. You did the best that you could.

[undeterred]

19. I am sorry for your losses.

What a terrible experience.

[blueraven95]

20. I'm so sorry

:hug:

[Muttocracy]

21. What a nightmare!

I remember driving on a long trip with one of my dogs and being too tired to drive all the way to my planned destination. Bless the overnight hotel clerk who let me sneak my dog in with me as long as I was gone before his supervisor's shift started the next morning.

There were a few places over the years that let me bring my dog in as long as I kenneled him overnight (had a folding wire kennel with me). Now that I have 2 dogs I just don't travel much except to visit friends. Of course, you didn't have a choice.

I can't believe hotels weren't sympathetic to someone with such tiny animals.

I have a book with pet-friendly hotel listings, but it's packed in a box at the moment. I think there are a few pet-friendly hotel websites too - anyone remember any of them?

This is one
http://www.petswelcome.com/

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Oh man ..... that's awful.

My heart goes out to you ... all of you.

[AZBlue]

23. I'm so sorry!

Rest in peace, Inara and Orion!

[catrose]

24. Red Roof Inn

When I moved across country I kept one of their directories with me and planned my stopping points according to their sites. Their policy is technically 2 pets, but no one ever asked me how many I had or charged me extra. My evacuation plan is to head to the nearest Red Roof Inn--or the next one after that. Very basic facilities, but my cats come first. Call 1800REDROOF for reservations & availability.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost two this last week as well.

[catrose]

25. Their pet policy has changed

Their website says only one--but it looks like they're thinking dogs rather than smaller critters. I'd still ask.

http://www.redroof.com/promotions/pets.asp