Evacuees returning for pets

[spinbaby]

Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun

An increasing number of people from the 20-kilometer evacuation zone around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant are defying authorities to return temporarily to take care of their pets, it has been learned.

Volunteers from animal protection groups also have been entering the evacuation zone at pet owners' request for such purposes as feeding the pets, according to prefectural government sources.

Alarmed by the danger of radiation exposure, the prefectural government has issued a strong warning to pet owners and others not to enter the area as long as the evacuation advisory remains in effect.

A member of an animal protection body working in disaster-affected areas quoted a woman evacuee from Namiemachi, Fukushima Prefecture, as saying over the phone in tears, "We left our cat behind at home, and we don't know what to do."

Read more: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110403002837.htm

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I know that if I had to leave my fur babies behind, I'd be beside myself with worry.

[sasha031]

1. I hear you,

our beloved fur babies are family.

[AndyTiedye]

2. The Pets Should be Evacuated Too!

If it's too radioactive for people, it's too radioactive for animals!

[get the red out]

6. Hell yes!

I'd be bringing my dog out of there one way or another, we might both glow in the dark but we'd do it together.

[SkyDaddy7]

7. SAME HERE!

My 3 Amigos, my 3 kids, my 3 Chihuahuas, are my best friends! The wife aside of course...Although she might choose our Chihuahuas over me! LOL!

My wife & I can't have kids so we literally treat our 3 Chihuahuas like our kids! Crazy I know but we love them!

[get the red out]

11. That's hubby and I

and our little Aussie Mix, Layla. She's our baby.

[Courtesy Flush]

9. We live in hurricane alley

When we evacuate, the cats always come with us.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. They should be allowed to assume the risk if they want. I would. They should also be told the honest

radiation levels, not just issued a vague warning, with no levels specified, and then trust in the exclusion zone to 'keep people safe'.

Give us the info. How bad is it, actually?

[xchrom]

4. +1 -- officials need to learn -- don't leave the animals behind in the first place.

our big brains should be able to figure some thing out.

[catrose]

5. YES!

Police and such still tell people, "Don't take your pets," but ALWAYS take your pets. You don't know when/if you can return. Red Cross is forbidden by law to have pets in shelters, but the Humane Society has been working with them to help people care for their animals. Sometimes a pet place can be set up in another part of the school/church where the shelter is. My personal disaster plan is to go to the first Red Roof Inn beyond the disaster area. Red Roof has not charged for pets in the past.

Thumbs down to Holiday Inn, which accepts if they feel like it. During Katrina/Rita, they said they would, and rejected people's pets when they arrived. Humane Society and local vets were scrambling.

[Raschel]

8. Good information to know.

Pets are very healing, most people should know that by now.

Families don't need the added sadness of losing a pet when they're going through a crisis.

P.S. I hopped into a creek last week to save mine!

[AnneD]

15. We learned from Katrina...

when Ike visited Houston, pets were added to the evacuation lists and shelters allowed them. I had my pets with me. They weren't happy but I had piece of mind.

[lunatica]

10. I can't imagine leaving my dogs ever.

My son was once driving with his dog and he had an accident where the car ended up flipping over 360 degrees and skidding. The dog was fine but he broke a vertebrate in his back and had to be taken to the hospital. He begged a lady cop to bring his dog home which she did. He wasn't going to leave the dog behind or let them take her to the poung. She was a rescue from a pound and he promised himself that she would never go there again. The lady cop must have been a pet owner herself. It was a very generous thing to do.

[SydNav]

12. Kudos to your son

In the midst of all of the sadness, I enjoyed reading that. Thanks for sharing.

[Snoutport]

13. :0( heartbreaking.

A few days after the nuclear problems started I made a post and mentioned animals and the pro-nuke people ate me alive. But pet owners think about this stuff and we know there is nothing set in place to evacuate the people of an entire city, let alone the pets.

My heart aches for the people who know their pet's are in dire straights.

[xchrom]

14. kick