Most of us would never consider leaving our four-legged family members behind in an emergency, and it seems that people a century ago had similar sentiments. On the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we are finally hearing about the dogs onboard—and the guardians who refused to leave them.

Titanic Passengers Loved Their Dogs, Too

Widener University in Pennsylvania is hosting a centennial Titanic exhibit, part of which focuses on the twelve dogs who were onboard the ship. The three who survived were small dogs whose guardians smuggled them onto lifeboats, likely without the other passengers noticing. Passenger Margaret Hays reportedly got her dog, Lady, onto the lifeboat by wrapping her in a blanket.

At least one of the Titanic's passengers jumped out of a lifeboat when she was told her dog couldn't accompany her. Ann Elizabeth Isham refused to leave her Great Dane behind, and days later, a recovery ship found the body of a woman still clinging to a large dog, which all accounts identify as Isham and her beloved Great Dane.

What Katrina Taught Us

More recently, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, PETA rescuers saw stories similar to Isham's repeated again and again. But these distraught guardians were forced to evacuate and leave their animals behind. Many animals didn't make it, although some were rescued and returned to their families after months of searching by PETA and other animal organizations.

The PETS Act

The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina forced the issue of animals suffering during disasters into the national spotlight and resulted in the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, which requires state and local disaster plans to include provisions for safely accommodating animal companions in the event of a major disaster or emergency.

We've seen the benefits of the nation's heightened awareness of the need for disaster planning for animals in the wake of the recent Navy jet crash in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which destroyed or damaged 40 apartments. Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center immediately spread word to rescue workers that it would take in all displaced animals, and families knew that their animal companions had a safe place to go while they made arrangements.

Disasters Don't Have to Be Tragedies

Many more families are now doing their own advance planning to protect animals in emergencies, including taking the following steps:

• Keeping ID tags current on animals' collars
• Having animals microchipped and keeping the microchip company abreast of any changes in information
• Putting current photos of animals inside purses and wallets to help rescuers identify them
• Storing current medical records, along with veterinarians' and boarding facilities' phone numbers, in an easily accessible place
• Making an emergency evacuation kit containing leashes, medicine, water, food, litter, and phone numbers of animal-friendly hotels

Advance planning can't prevent natural disasters, but it can prevent disasters from becoming tragedies for our animal companions.

When natural disasters strike around the globe, rescuers from PETA and its international affiliates travel straight into the hardest-hit areas to rescue animals who have been displaced, abandoned, or lost. We recently caught up with three dogs who had happy endings thanks to those brave souls.

Sporty's elderly guardian tried everything he could to stay with his dog during Hurricane Katrina, including swimming for two blocks with Sporty in his arms, but he was eventually forced to evacuate and leave his dog behind. PETA rescued the little poodle, and three months later, Sporty and his guardian were reunited. The guardian, who lost nearly everything in the hurricane, still sends us updates on Sporty, and PETA continues to pay for the dog's vet care, including a recent tooth extraction.

Licorice's mom was at the bedside of a hospitalized relative when Hurricane Katrina hit and rescue workers wouldn't let the panic-stricken guardian retrieve Licorice from her home. PETA fostered Licorice for several months and provided her with vet care until we could locate her guardian. Grateful to have Licorice back, she tells us that the poodle is enjoying the high life, going for rides with her family and getting her "mani-pedis."

Brophie somehow outsmarted Hurricane Irene, and after the worst was over, he had the good sense to walk into a Norfolk fire station and lay down on the floor. He was weak, emaciated, and suffering from a flea allergy so severe that he was severely anemic and had lost much of his fur. The fire department staff treated him like royalty during the hurricane and then called PETA for help. A PETA Foundation staffer fell hard for the sweet southern gentleman, and he now enjoys five walks a day, romps on the beach, and plenty of square meals. His ribs are no longer showing, and his fur is growing back. He even went back to pay a visit to his pals at the fire station recently.

PETA relies on donations to our Animal Emergency Fund to make rescues like these possible. With the holiday season coming up, consider giving someone on your list the gift of saving an animal's life by making a donation in your loved one's name.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Some East Coast residents are actually enjoying the relentless snowstorms that have been battering the Eastern Seaboard. Former Denver stray Ted (left) challenges Nola—whom PETA evacuated from New Orleans (hence her name) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina—to a race through a winter wonderland.

Nola now lives with PETA Foundation staffer Sarah McCluskey in Boston. Looks like this former southern belle is giving snow veteran Ted a run for his money.