In a reminder that both humans and animals are affected by the wake of Hurricane Harvey, a dog was spotted walking down the road in Sinton, Texas carrying a large bag of food in his mouth.
According to Tiele Dockins, who posted the photo on Facebook, the dog — named Otis — was soon reunited with his owner. But many others are not so lucky.
Organizations like Houston SPCA and Austin Pets Alive! are on the ground saving lives, and they are asking for help supplying the funds, foster homes and supplies they need to care for the hundreds of animals filling their shelters. Likewise, the American Red Cross is requesting support in their massive hurricane relief efforts for humans.
Thankfully, Otis did not become another animal rendered homeless — or killed — by the flooding. In any emergency like Hurricane Harvey, both humans and animals have their lives turned upside-down.
WHY!!! WHY IN HELL!!’ Do people who know they have to leave a stricken area!! DELIBERATELY Leave their animals behind!! How cruel!! Maybe someone should tie a rope around their neck, add a bag of food and say good luck to them!!! WHY ??? WHY IN GODS NAME?? WHY!?!?
I know Barry..I don’t understand either. Maybe he was unintentionally separated from his owner..I hope? But you’re absolutely right, many, many people do abandon their pets. It’s just awful.
I agree.
When we knew there was a hurricane coming our way, we followed the weather report, took everything with us, got in the car and drove north to upstate new york from Maryland until we knew the hurricane had died down and it was safe.
We returned the next day to clean up the branches etc…
Leaving an animal tied to a rope is like a death sentence. The poor guy cant even seek shelter.
Brain dead people should be placed on a list of folks that are off limits to animal ownership. People that abuse dogs should get the same treatment.
Idea: As far as animal abuse, we should stiffen the laws.
Can we bring something to our politicians so something can be done? HARD JAIL TIME for abusers.
…amen to that…people like this should “NOT” be allowed to have an animal…poor sweet baby…
The human shelters don’t allow pets. Perhaps you can think of a solution.
NO EXCUSE! IF YOU HAVE 2 LEGS AND 2 ARMS- YOU CAN CARRY YOUR PET – ANYWHERE THE ROAD LEADS YOU TO!!- A CLEARING!! BRING YOUR LEASH AND OR A PET CARRIER IF YOU CAN!!! IF YOU HAVE A CAR THAT CAN BE USED- EVEN BETTER- PET CAN STAY INSIDE THE CAR WITH WINDOWS- CRACKED AND OWNER NEARBY CHECKING ON PET!! YOU DON’T EVER- EVER LEAVE YOUR ” FAMILY”- BEHIND- ” EVER”!!!!!!
Just a reminder that we all need the basics.
love, shelter, food.
Heartbreaking photo, which again shows how smart animals are. Thank God this dog was reunited with his owner. This world isn’t getting better. I keep praying God will return FAST. Thank you to the wonderful organizations doing rescue work!
What if God already came & left? Ever considered that?
THERE IS NO GOD!!! IF THERE WAS, ALL OF THIS EVIL SHIT WOULD NOT EXIST!! AND THERE WOULD BE TRUE JUSTICE AGAINST ANIMAL ABUSE!!! THIS WORLD IS EVIL AND A TOTAL DISGRACE!!!
ALSO, ANY OWNER THAT DELIBERATELY LEAVES THEIR PET BEHIND NEEDS TO BE DROWNED!!!…SEE HOW THEY LIKE IT!!! THERES ABSOLUTELY NO FN EXCUSE FOR THIS!!! EVIL PEOPLE SUCK AND SHOULD BE WIPED OFF OUR PLANET!!!
Mel, I agree with you one hundred percent!!
Mmm there is no God… how about people taking responsibility for “their own actions”? People have “free will”. God does not put a gun to anyone’s head and force them to abuse or abandon their animals. God isn’t to blame for all these natural disasters caused by climate change that so many like to deny. God doesn’t make large corporations pollute and destroy the environment and frack for oil resulting in more and more earthquakes. God doesn’t tell people to rob banks and kill the security guard, or tell hunters to kill for trophy’s. God doesn’t run the meat, egg and dairy industries that not only torture animals but kill humans all over the world and He doesn’t tell parents to feed that cancer to their children from a very young age setting them up for illnesses sooner or later in life. The list is endless of all the evil things that God isn’t to blame for but humankind likes to blame God for “their” shortcomings! It’s easier to blame God that take responsibility!
Absolutely spot on Conchita!! Everybody blames everybody for everything that’s bad on this earth. Our God, unfortunately, is no exception. Responsibility is learnt, respect is earned. Some are just born to parents that are born to parents that are soooooo bad it’s a vicious cycle. Animals are innocents that always pay the highest price. Things have improved over the years, BUT!!!! A long way to go for us humans & the learning curve. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾💕💕💕💕💕
You’re absolutely right Lynn. All these things are first taught in the home. This world is so corrupt it evolves around EGO not ECO. Soon humanity will be halted because at this pace nothing would survive. God said He will ruin those who are ruining the earth, so my guess is, it won’t be long now 🙏🏼🌹❤️
If you have to evacuate and you have pets you have responsibility to take them with you no matter what. Every living creature needs love, food, water and shelter no exception. Good on you Otis!! You go for it! This is an awe inspiring image.
i am sorry but this should have never happened if this was my pet my first thing to do is take my pets with me to wherever i would be safe my fur babies are my life
I had a terrible flood where I once lived. Had to get out by boat, first one I grabbed was my little dog, Cassie, no way was I going to leave her behind.
If I couldn’t take my eight rescues with me I would stay with them and take my chances. You do not abandon your family. But I must say I have been heartened to see how many people in the Texas floods being rescued in boats have their dogs with them. I believe after Katrina they passed legislation saying rescuers are not to force people to leave their pets behind. Or was that law ever passed? Does anyone know? Anyway, I see that the Humane Society is on the ground rescuing pets too, and I pray for all those with four legs as well as those with two.
Yes, the law was passed. See more informationa bout it at this address: https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/why-hurricane-katrina-was-shift-pets-rights
Why did you leave your family behind? Thank God he had the forethought to take his food with him – what a smart boy!!
Scroll down for the real story. Yes, he’s a smart boy. He’s a service dog, and he wasn’t left behind by his family.
WHAT A VERY SMART & VERY INTELLIGENT BOY…
I JUST HOPE & PRAY THAT ALL THE ANIMALS ARE SAVED, & REUNITED WITH THEIR OWNERS…
WHERE I GO MY LITTLE CAVALIER GOES TOO !
Are we sure he is carrying a bag of food? It looks to me like he’s carrying one of those dog tents with a small dog inside. I must need my eyes checked!
I went through Sandy hurricane- would not leave my 15 year old beautiful dog anywhere behind- he died last year (2016).
My dog THOR just passed away today at 11-15am (B.S.T.).He would have been the FIRST thing i would save in any situation. NO SECOND THOUGHTS. R.I.P. THOR.
Sorry to hear that John.
R.I.P. Thor.
I am so sorry John….Thor and Rainbow Bridge
So sorry for your loss
Just lost our little doggie.(17) She was so sweet & loving. Miss her so much. 🐾🐾💕💕 Wouldn’t have left her & neither would my husband!!
I’m so sorry Lynn. When a pet is loved so much nothing will ever fill the void, but as time goes by you start remembering more and more all the wonderful things did you make your life full! I would never abandon my pets ever. If they stay, I stay. Some months when money is really tight, I always make sure I have their food bought first, for me I can make do with anything. Being Vegan means I can stuff my face for little money (non processed of course). But my dogs come first, always. I will pray for you and for John so that your hearts will be a little lighter. God bless ❤️🙏🏼
I’m so sorry for your loss John. R.I.P. THOR ❤️
I agree with all of you the laws need to change and impose strict.ly harsher laws for these scumbag abusers jail is way to good for them ihink they should have to endure the same things they put those sweet babies through it just makes me sick
Thank you Julie. I’m so glad this is now law.
so sorry for your loss i understand completely in the loss of a fur baby i just recentally had to put one of my furbabies down from cancer
The three things I would grab first(if I was unprepared) would be my dog Puck,my makeup box, and my PS4. To be totally honest. If I was prepared, I would grab my survival bag, my dog and his carried and a duffelbag containing my makeup, a couple outfits and my PS4 lol.
But hey, shame on Otis’ owner for leaving him behind, I only hope that it was a mistake.
Hi Peggy,
I am so sorry to hear of Thor’s passing!! My heart goes out to you; I just lost my sweet little baby two weeks ago- may they both be free to run the fields of Heaven free of worry and pain. And may God protect all the fur babies dealing with the storm.
My apologies, that message was for John and Debbie
Nothing makes me more angry when people leave their animals behind to die in a disaster!!! Many are doing their best to save them. Thanks so much!!! Animals rely on their owners to protect them and keep them safe. To abandon them is such a betrayal of trust!!!! Imagine if you were abandoned like that. All types of rescue organizations, not just animal, should have facilities ready to take animals too. Maybe then people would be more willing to save their animals.
I am also outraged by this. But has any of us stopped to consider the owner’s circumstances: perhaps they were unaware of their rights and may have been told that they had to leave their pets behind, perhaps the owners needed care themselves and were unable to care for their pets.
I would NEVER leave my babies behind, but we are not always privy to an individual’s story or reasoning.
He wasn’t actually lost. He’s a service dog that’s well known in his community. He just got out (before the flooding started) and he walked himself to a local store where he’s well known. He was reunited with his people within minutes of the photo.
Well, that’s very good news !! 💕💕🐾🐾 Hopefully lots of other animals were saved.
I can still see in my minds eye after Katrina, some lovely soles weeks after going from house to house looking for abandoned pets, some were not with us anymore. Just seeing and hearing the heartache that is still to come in Texas (I live in Australia) I can see many more animals ending up this way. On the news to-night some people were wading through the water and managing this huge crate with animals in, god bless them. My heart goes out to the animals, they give us so much love, and to just abandon them I cannot fathom.
People who leave dogs in a situation like this should be shot in the fucking face! That is a terrible death sentence! Why in the fuck would you even think of doing that? These kind of people should be put on a list of abusers and not be allowed to ever own a pet! Fuck these assholes!