A recently released National Pet Owners study found that seventy-four percent of dog owners regard their pets as a child or family member. This is no surprise to those of us who cohabitate with the critters. There is that melty feeling when we lock on to the sparkling eyes of happy recognition or feel our tensions fade when we bury face, hands or toes into a furry coat. With the satisfying weight of a warm cat on my lap, I am never home alone.

One can only imagine how people who have lost their wardrobes, keepsakes, photos, furniture, gardens, and jobs (and the litany goes on and gets worse) manage the additional profound sadness that comes with losing a beloved animal companion.

What is obvious to pet owners has not yet been universally acknowledged by rescue planners. Because pets are regarded as members of the family, folks will not always evacuate in an emergency unless their pets can come too. (Pets can be anything from turtles and birds to llamas and goats – they are the creatures to whom we have extended our hearts.)

In fact, studies in the disaster-prone western state of California show that the desire to stay with one's domestic animals is the most common reason people refuse to evacuate under the threat of fire or flood. As a result, California emergency planners there have made best efforts to include animal care in their emergency planning activities.

The current question has been why were animals not included in the (somewhat ineffective) preparedness protocols following Hurricane Katrina? Was it because local government and culture still regard animals as legal chattel and nothing more?

Regardless of why dogs and cats were left off of the boats and buses, we are left to ponder about the next time. As species-centric animals, we should and do regard human life first.

The general consensus has it that the private sector needs to take responsibility for caring for displaced and misplaced pets. First responders are plenty stressed just looking after people's primary needs.

But it makes most sense for government agencies to change their rules and regulations to allow for the transportation of reasonably sized, behaved, and restrained animals at the time of rescue or forced evacuation. What happens after that will be for the local animal control, humane societies, veterinary clinics and associations to execute.

Next month I'll outline my recommendation for how this handoff would work and what would be required to avoid the sad and desperate situation we face in the Hurricane Katrina aftermath.