Urgent! Cruel—and Criminal—to Abandon Animals During Tropical Storm

For Immediate Release:
June 5, 2020

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

As Tropical Storm Cristobal approaches the Gulf Coast and a mandatory evacuation has been ordered for all residents of Grand Isle, Louisiana, PETA reminds residents never leave dogs tethered outside or crated inside their homes and should take their animal companions with them if they have to evacuate.

Believe it or not, many dogs and other animal companions are left behind every time there’s a natural disaster. Dogs kept on tethered will swim to exhaustion and then drown, and there are tethered dogs everywhere. PETA’s Animal Rescue Team has witnessed firsthand the trauma that animals endure when left behind to face floodwaters and flying debris. During previous storms, we have found dogs dead. We have also found them up to their necks in water, unable to sit or lie down, in almost-submerged crates inside houses and seen animals who have been flung around in high winds. And of course, animals are petrified in these kinds of weather conditions.

PETA has release a natural disaster-preparedness PSA featuring Dean Winters. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Cities that have been alerted to PETA’s tropical storm survival tips include New Orleans, Baton Rouge, LA; and Mobile, AL.