A few rounds with the Red Cross

(Why I'm arguing with a form response, I'm not sure, except that it was so illogical I felt compelled to respond)

In the same breath you are telling people to take their pets with them, but then telling them not to take them to any of your shelters. Not everybody can afford a pet friendly hotel. I'm sorry that you're more concerned with obeying state regulations than with saving lives. I will be working to ensure the laws are changed so that you have no choice but to accept pets or otherwise provide safe accomodations for them.

Cathy AtkinsonInfo wrote:

Dear Ms. Atkinson,

Thank you for contacting the American Red Cross.
We would like to assure you that the American Red Cross is not asking people to abandon their pets. The Red Cross knows, as many of its 35,000 employees and one million volunteers are pet lovers that pets are a part of the family! In fact our guidance in our very popular Pet First Aid manual says "If you have to evacuate your home for any reason, even if you don't expect to be gone for long, take your pets with you!" Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of states' health and safety regulations and other considerations (except for service animals who assist people with disabilities) so your disaster plan should include places you and your pets can stay while you're out of your home.

As such, just as we recommend and are confident that pet owners have information for their pet's veterinarian, 24 hour veterinary emergency hospital, National Animal Poison Control Center, having identified an animal shelter or care facility before a disaster know where to take their pet for medical attention in case of an emergency just as the American Red Cross advises pet owners to have identified a 24 hour emergency medical aid in case of an emergency for their pet---the Red Cross believes and urges that pet owners merely consider this another aspect of their family's disaster preparedness plan, and their pet's care, comfort, health and safety! After all we want to ensure pets can be as comfortable as possible as well.
Also, please note that there are several organizations, like the American Humane Society(http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer ) that are actively involved in pet rescue.
Thank you again for contacting us.


-----Original Message-----From: Cathy Atkinson

inquirytype: Complaint

questions: I just returned from volunteering in Louisiana and was so sad to hear how many people were unable to be helped by the Red Cross because of your no-pet policy.

While I understand that some people have allergies and cannot be around pets, it is not that complex to have a pet area and a non pet area in a shelter. It is like having a smoking and a no smoking area in a restaurant. After all, many people have allergies to smoke as well. Your policy seems to put your fear of legal liability far above and beyond your desire to help the victims, and that is profoundly sad. My friends and myself will not be able to support your organization in any way until this policy is changed.