animals and the hurricane

In times of tragedy and sadness, it's very important to focus on people. people are important and we, who are reading this, are people. however, the often forgotten victims of such tragedies are the animals. the thousands of factory-farmed animals trapped and crushed by their enclosures, the pasture cows who have no grass to eat because it's all supersaturated or under water, the zoo and acquarium animals (most of whom died because of a 'power failure' - how upsetting is it that fish can't live in the water into which we put them without power-generation), and of course, the pets that many rescuers forced the victims to leave behind. organizations like peta, the humane society, and other, smaller animal welfare organizations are now down there, doing their best to rescue the remaining animals. I personally gave a donation to the humane society, because they are well organized, etc, but there are many smaller organizations that could certainly also benefit from donations. and key right now is to find temporary housing for the animals. so if you live nearby, and it freaks you out to take a stranger or two into your home, think about a new dog or cat or ferret, etc.