What about your pets in a bug-out situation?

[Old Fud]

First have a choice, then answer the question.

We all seem to be missing a few key points here that have been obvious in the past 2 weeks.

The people who did it themselves had a CHOICE . 80% of NO got into there vehicles and bailed out, providing whatever pre-planning and Bug-out facilities they had prepared and loaded. Those people were in a position to deal with preacherman's question and, if they so decided, to answer it as most of you are doing.

IF you find yourself dealing with government-provided evacuation, you are going to do it by their rules.

I felt for the families who carried their pets to the collection centers and then were forced to leave them behind when the buses came, but I felt for the officials as well. The situation was desperate, they decided and acted in favor of saving HUMAN lives, so sorry too bad. I hoped that those same officials that wouldn't let the pets on board had the humanity to dispatch the critters immediately. I wish I knew that is what they had done.

I agree that, in PARTS of the city, evacuation is mandatory. And the question is whether the citizen is going to wait for the government to do it "for" (to?) him or to face the requirement and do it himself.
And again, if he waits, then he will subject himself to and abide by the "provider's rules". If he does it himself, then he can answer Preacherman's question.

With that in mind, have at it, my friends.

(For myself, one of the lessons learned this past week is that I MUST purchase one of those super-sharp folders and have it handy for putting down pets on the way out the door to save human lives.)

Fud

 

[chaim]

I think several things have been learned (by me at least) by what happened in NO. Many people left assuming they'd go back home in days if not hours, that is why so many left their pets. The biggest lession I've learned is for a bug out situation to always assume it will be long term or even perminant and plan from there.

So, the cat comes with me if she can, if there is no choice it will be a .22lr behind the ear (she is a very neurotic indoor cat who is deathly afraid of the outdoors, even though she has her claws she'd never survive on her own). However, even those who left early and found their own shelter in this situation have a problem- they can't go back for months if ever. For most people their savings will run out after a fairly short stint in a hotel, government shelters usually don't allow pets, and generousity of friends or family may or may not extend to pets.

One of the biggest things I've learned from what happened in NO is to bug out with my Social Security card. I used to always keep it seperate from my wallet to avoid identity theft should my wallet ever be stolen. However, to survive in dignity (and especially for your pet to survive) you need to get a job in your host city so you can afford a cheap apartment while you wait to go home. That way, once the savings are gone you can still afford to provide your own shelter (and thus keep your pet).

Luckily, bug out situations are one advantage of living in MD. No earthquakes, no mudslides, no massive Midwestern style flooding, few blizzards (and when they happen the thaw comes quickly), few tornadoes (and when they hit it is very localized so you can bug out locally), and the one or two hurricanes that make it here every decade are quite weakened by the time they get here and there is plenty of advanced warning. Additionally, the part of MD where I live in quite a bit inland and above sea level so flooding and storm surges is not an issue (flash flooding can be for those on the road though). The most likely bug out situations I can think of are short-term and/or very localized like gas leaks, riots or a localized tornado or a personal disaster like a fire (while these are after the fact bug outs, they are easy to plan for). About the only large-scale and long-term bug out possibilities are (chas v'shalom) a nuclear attack, dirty bomb, or large-scale bioterror attack in the Baltimore-Washington region (unfortunately though, this may not be completely unlikely).

So, a tornado or riot or other local bug out situation and definately the cat comes along. Heck, it could stay with friends a while if need be. In a massive bioterror or nuclear attack, it depends on the warning. If I can bug out on my own she comes along, but if I have no choice but to go with the government help and they don't allow pets she'll get the .22lr in the head.

 

[The_Antibubba]

Two pieces of gear that will get your dog evacuated with you

White cane.

Sunglasses.

 

[W Turner]

My wife and I have discussed this before and the dog would go. No question. Family companion, great watchdog, and she is part of the family. The cats.....well, they would likely be left behind. They are all indoor/outdoor cats and although it makes me sound barbaric to say this....they are just cats. They have the tools necessary to survive on their own if the situation calls for it (they are always bringing mice and moles home) and could survive all but the worst situations.

I would put the cats down if I thought we would be displaced for more than two weeks. Two of the three are young and were feral before we brought them home.

W

 

[Frandy]

Well, if we have the opportunity to flee by car, we take the four dogs and one cat with us. The only reason I own an SUV is because we have these dogs. We have a carrier for the top of the vehicle, which, if I have an hour, I can get up there. The dogs, guns, food and water in the vehicle with us and anything we can manage to get in the carrier is gravy.
Now, if we couldn't get out by vehicle (needed external authority to save us or had to hoof it for some reason), my wife said she won't leave but would stay with the dogs. Yeah, right. We'll see about that.

 

[marley]

The dog's name is marley. He goes with me. I will get home to him to get him out. Never mess with a boy and his dog. All of my family and friends know that the dog stays with me. I would walk out as far as necessary. He is a lab he can swim better than I can. He can walk farther than I can. I sleep well at night with him at my feet. I will keep the faith with him. I owe him. He has kept up his end of the deal I will keep mine. Patrick

 

[The Freeholder]

I don't really plan to bug out--too dicey in my area. Better to hunker down. But if I have to go, I have sufficient cat carriers to take everyone with me, and I'm going to be laying in enough supplies to build a cage for emergencies. I have a large enough vehicle and small enough trailer to make this feasible.

I see a lot of RVers who travel with cats, and they have nice cages (rather large, say 6'x6'x4') that fold up. Mr. Flufkins rides in the RV during travel, and can come out in the pen for fresh air and a bit of excercise at the destination. I may consider these rather than materials, since they are already made (Hey, I'm lazy!) and the fold flat for easiy storage.

Harnesses and leashes might be a good idea as well, and I'm going to think on that one.

I'm going to echo the majority--the cats are part of the family. Where we go, they go--or we don't go. But if that doesn't work, then I'm going to have to see if I have it in me to put them down with a .22 to the head. I won't leave them to die a miserable death, and in a emergency, I suspect a vet will be hard to find.

 

[farscott]

My wife and I are used to travelling with our four small dogs, and we have discussed what we would do in the event we had to leave our home. Basically, the dogs go where we go and are as much a part of our family as our daughter is. Our dogs all have collars and are used to being on leashes, so that is not an issue.

The good news is that the dog's medicines, mostly flea/tick skin treatments and heartworm pills, are very small, and they fit into our medical kits. We also use baby vitamins with the older dogs, and we have enough vitamins to make sure all the dogs have what they need. As far as dog food, we have quite a few jars of baby food, especially the stage 3's, which are great for dogs. Our eldest dog is twelve, and she gets baby food a few times a week as it is, so we are used to dealing with baby food. A couple of jars will feed our dogs for a day. An old ammo box holds enough baby food for a few weeks.

Our dogs also love chicken and are they are used to eating the meat from the legs while we usually eat the breast meat. One bird will feed our whole (human and canine) family. We just add some canned green beans to the chicken, and the dogs are in hog heaven. Yesterday, we made a "juiced" (like beer can chicken, only we used cherry juice) on a charcoal-fired grill, and we split the meat as described. I do need to get a Weber Smokey Joe, so I have a more portable grill.

 

[Atticus]

I'd take them with me if possible...if not, I'd leave open feed bags and a few pans of water on the floor, the toilets open, and wish them the best. I can't see any situation where I couldn't get back in a week. If I couldn't, there probably ain't nothing to go back to - which doesn't bode well for them anyway.

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Yep, my baby and I have talked about it. Three cats. The only problem would be the 13 year old, who, when she gets in the car repeats "I don wanna" and "mama" about 30 times a minute. No joke.

 

[sumpnz]

We're down to one dog now since we had to put Gracie to sleep back in June. Sarah (the remaining dog) comes with us provided we have a chance to get in the vehicles. The birds too. I have a 21 year old cockatiel (he was a Christmas present in 2nd grade) and there's no chance I'd leave him behind to starve/die of disease. The Indian Ringneck and Quaker that I owe more to than to leave behind (though my wife would probably prefer that).

If I had no opportunity to load any of them, and no way to give them to folks willing and able to care for them, well, it doesn't take hardly any time to load up the tube in my .22 rifle. I'd probably hate myself for a really long time if I had to resort to that, but I'd hate myself more if I knew I'd condemned them to a horrible, slow death from starvation/disease.

That said, this in yet another reason to not live 12 feet below sea level. At least here in the Sonoran desert the only things likely to force a sudden long-term bug out situation are things like a WMD terrorist attack or some unforseeable event. Even wildfires aren't that much of a threat to the places where most people live.

 

[O.F.Fascist]

I would bring my animals with me if I could.

However if that were not an option and I had to leave them behind I would let them loose.

If I were to kill them that would be a definate death sentance, I would atleast give them a chance at surviving in the new wild.

 

[rufus1]

I have 2 Aussi's now. They are all I have and I am all they have. They go with me. If I am out of the area when TSHTF and have to get back in to get them, God help the soul that trys to stop me. I have a 5th wheel trailer that I bought just for this purpose, So I could go on vacation and not have to worry whats happening to them and that they would always have a roof over their head in an emergency. I have had to put down 3 dogs over 15 years. 1st one I did myself( 120lb rotty) after my dobe broke her back. All you guys that say you would put them down yourself, should think before you say you could do it. That scene stays with you the rest of your life. I gave up hunting that day and have never killed another animal since. My dobe was put down at the age of 12 for health reasons a few years later. Another rotty was hit by a car and it cost me $8k for 3 opperations and 3 months in hospital. He lived another 3 years before having a stroke and his rear hind becoming paralyzed. I bonded with that dog like you could't believe before he died and swore I would do anything in my power to keep my future dogs safe. So if They cant go where the Gov wants to put me, then I'll just start walkin' with the dogs.

 

[svtruth]

Planning

It is interesting that so many say "would" rather than "my plan is..."
BTW, with 3 pets I don't have a plan.

 

[Preacherman]

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/photography/2005/katrina_video/straydogs.html

 

[Ryder]

I've got thousands of dollars invested in my dog so obviously I value her greatly. Given a choice between her life and that of a human being? I will be buying another dog.

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

Let me first say that I have an infant, and would leave when the initial warning is given. I am a wimp, but I want to see my Baby grow up.

The Dogs go with us, not questions asked, and non negotiable. The Terrier is the alarm system (with Kidney disease, and NEEDS her meds), the Border Collie/ Lab/ Sheppard is the security system/ morale booster. If it's a bug out situation in the summer, and we can bug out, we drag the camper with us. If not, we are high above the water line, and will bunker down. We have a river near us, about 30 gallons of water stock piled in the house (good for a couple of days), and a pool. Camping gear to cook with. '68 Impala with a big old tank of gas that can be siphoned. If it's the winter (my biggest worry) and we get hit hard, the quattro A6 and/ or the Jeep Grand Cherokee will get us all to safety.


They are my first and second children. The third, now 10 months, is defective and only has 2 legs. Hopefully I can bring her up with the same sence of loyalty that the 4 legged ones have! I wouldn't leave her, so why the others? I like my dogs more than most people that I know.

The rabbit, well, let's say I wouldn't miss her. To be honest, I'm not sure about the cat. I would like to say that I'd take her, but if she were to scream bloody murder like she does when in a car, and the SHTF, how much SCREAMING can one tolerate? I think that, depending upon the sitation, I'd leave a TON of food and water, and hope for the best.

 

[only1asterisk]

Ryder,

That's bound to be an unpopular sentiment here, but I concur for the most part.

David

 

[Mannlicher]

Trust me, we have thought long and hard about that. We have three Scotties. I don't believe we would leave them. Our plans have always taken the dogs into account.

 

[torpid]

My cats have had long and fulfilled lives...



Seriously, though- we'll take 'em if we can, or set 'em up to fend on their own if we can't. Call it the cost of "feline independence".

Dogs would be emotionally tougher to do this with in my opinion.

.

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Torpid, only one problem with "feline independance"... if they have been declawed.

All three of our cats have had their front claws done. If you do that to a cat, you have a responsiblity to the animal to one, keep it indoors, and two, keep it safe.

You basically reduce the animal to a dependant creature, since they cannot fully defend themselves.

 

[Cosmoline]

Buy a SAR dog vest from a K-9 supply store and put it on fido when the SHTF. Instant ticket to anywhere you want to go in town or out. Unethical? Yes. But so is demanding you leave your pet behind.

Doesn't work with toy breeds, though Or cats!

 

[roo_ster]

If We Leave, Dogs Go with Us

We have two German Shorthaired Pointers. They would be integral to our SHTF plans, as they are wonderful alarm pups. Some folks look at the male, see his ripped & muscular build and avoid him. The female is not so ripped or large (only 45# vs 65#), but she has a serious, "Don't mess with me or my pack" bark that'll put off strangers we have not introduced to her.

They are good hunters and would be able to feed themselves if hunuting space & small critters were available.

Now, they are really friendly dogs, but in SHTF, I will not dissuade folks from thinking my dogs would run them down & eat the liver from their still-live body if they give us trouble.

 

[Luchtaine]

I dunno if you have a good working dog and you had to hoof it the dog would be an asset in my opinion. they serve as a deterrent, detection, and small pack animal all in one. And if you are somewhere thats going to be underwater realistically you probably wont be packing anything out either. If its something you can survive I think most animals would be able to unless you had them declawed or otherwise rendered unable to help themselves. Same for toy dogs. I don't really have any pets that can't take care of themselves. my parrot is capable of flying so I think if it was that bad I would set him loose rather a hawk get him or something than kill him myself. On the other hand Orange county has a wild parrot population now... he would probably be fine

 

[BryanP]

Dog and cats would go with us. If for no other reason than my wife wouldn't leave them and I wouldn't leave her.

Next question?