I am still unable to find the words to adequately  describe my feelings during those horrific days. But perhaps, as even thinking of those unfortunate people and what they went through is so difficult, another aspect of this event will be easier, if not less upsetting. The  plight of the creatures who by necessity were forced to take second place to those terrified and  helpless people. How  difficult it must have been for those family  pets who were left behind to fend for themselves. Not only must they have been terrified. They also were faced with the knowledge their families had, in many cases because they had no other alternative, left them behind.

 As anyone who has ever loved an animal knows, they give back so much more than they receive. Once you have been given the gift of an animal's love you learn they will  stand in defence of you,  never leave your side even to save themselves, and the loyalty they shower on you is all encompassing. How many times have we seen evidence of this when a beloved family dog refuses to leave the side of their master even after death has  taken them ? Humans are not nearly so steadfast.

 When an animal gives you their trust they bestow upon you a priceless gift. Animals, rightly so, hesitate to trust humans. Once given, that trust never waivers. Can anyone say the same about the majority of humans? Anyone who assumes that animals don't understand or feel the pain of rejection or abandonment simply has no understanding of our animal friends. How their terror must have been compounded by finding themselves alone facing unimaginable horror still breaks my heart and is too painful to fully deal with even now.

 Don't misunderstand, I do recognize that for most the decision to leave a family member behind was  one of the most difficult they faced in this catastrophe. I only have to remember that broken hearted little boy calling for his precious 'Snowball' as that  uncaring police officer tore him away from his best friend.  Would that wee doggie have really been such an insurmountable problem ? I doubt that very much. When all else had been taken from he and his family, and the familiar and  much loved  companion  was also denied him, how must that child have felt. And, will he ever forget or forgive? Only children come as close as animals when it comes to loyalty. It's only  as we become adults we all too often fail to recognize its value. Sometimes practicality should be ignored  for the sake of human compassion and respect for God's creatures. This was one of those times.

For those who dismiss family pets as nothing more than 'pets' my comments may seem like overreaction and maudlin sentimentality. To those who feel this way it must be difficult to understand, but for anyone who has  experienced the love an animal  gives to those who have opened their hearts to them it is not difficult to understand and empathize. Family pets are so much more than simply pets, they are loved family members  and very much a part of the family unit.

 Watching the helpless and  abandoned  humans was horrifying and shocking, and the images are engraved on my mind forever. Watching the helpless, defenceless animals struggling to survive, broke my heart.

 The following  article which articulates so well how I feel, I did not write. I have had it in my files for quite some time but have only just discovered today who the author is, thanks to a very kind visitor. It was authored by Crystal Ward Kent who retains the copyright.  You may visit her website here

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey ... a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.

Along the way, you will learn much about  life's simple pleasures ... jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information.

Your pace may be slower ... except when heading home to the food dish ... but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details ... the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows ... that nature has created a marvellously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen. (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.

You will find yourself doing silly things that you're pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride.

You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewy toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie ... with a cat in hot pursuit ... all in the name of love. Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound.

You will learn the true measure of love ... the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together." Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.

And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be ... the one they were proud to call beloved friend.

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short ... especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for awhile, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.

The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return.

When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead ... young and whole once more. "Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.