For those concerned about companion animals

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Urgent: Tell Your Federal Representatives to Demand Animals’ Safe Evacuation From New Orleans!

Dear Friend,

Your immediate attention and response is requested. No animal rescue groups have been allowed into New Orleans to help animals, who have been left stranded on their own. Sending money is not solving the animals’ problem, which is worsening by the hour.

Meanwhile, http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.pets.ap/index.html">federal authorities are forcing everyone—including elderly residents who have stayed in water-logged residences for five days just to safeguard their beloved animals—to leave their animals behind to starve. In some cases, people are told that they must choose between bringing vital medicine and bringing their dog when they are evacuated. This is illegal and it must stop.

PETA has issued a http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-disasterupdate.asp">media advisory stating that we will prosecute any known violators, but that is not stopping federal evacuators from insisting that animals be left to die. Today, http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-disasterletter.asp">Rue McClanahan wrote to President George W. Bush, calling on him to order officials to allow people to evacuate with their animals.

Please, immediately call your member of Congress today to ask that people be allowed to evacuate with their animals. Leave messages for them in Washington and at their home offices and get everyone you know to call. The names of—and contact information for—your http://www.house.gov/writerep/">representative and http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm">senators can be found online. Please http://view.exacttarget.com/ftaf.aspx?ffcc17-fe9515777c66057d73-fe2d15737666057a761d75-ff3516717066">forward this alert to others willing to lend their voices to help with this emergency.

Thank you for your compassion for animals and for your willingness to act today.

Sincerely,

Daniel Paden
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals