As much as I love my newf Arthur, he'd be way down on the list of priorities if we were ever involved in a tragedy like what is happening in NO.
And I'm just the opposite...my animals are as high on my list of priorities as any other member of my family.
In fact, they're more helpless than my family members if a situation like this was to occur, and by acquiring them, I've made a "promise to them" to be responsible for their well-being, so I'd make absolutely sure that they're safe.
Beyond the obvious (which is that some people love their animals as much as they do any OTHER family member), one of the reasons that many people are so focused on the animals is to help their owners cope.
Numerous pet owners in NO have said that they've lost everything, and to have to give up their beloved pets (ie to leave them behind to suffer certain death) is just tearing them to pieces. Psychologists know that to reunite them with their pets is one way to give them some measure of happiness. They've got enough stress...and this is one heartache that is "the straw that broke the camel's back" for many.
The film clip that showed just how upsetting it is, especially for a child, is the famous (now) "Snowball" segment. The child was so distressed that he was vomiting...and hysterical, that he had to leave his "Snowball" behind.
So many people are trying to reunite that little boy with his dog...just to give him some happiness in a horrible situation.
So...I believe that we take on the same responsibility for a pet that we do our children. Perhaps even more so...since we CHOSE to bring them into our lives.
And then...there's the love. How can you love another living, breathing, creature, and consider it "way down on your list of priorities"? For me, that's impossible.
