All I know is what I read in the papers . . . .

“Man dies saving best friend”
There’s a very sad story in the area news today about a man who died after being hit by a car. Details: one icy day last week, he slid off the highway into the ditch. He wasn’t hurt, but when he got out of his car to examine the damage, his constant companion, a black and white, medium size mix-breed dog named Babycakes jumped out and ran to the road. The owner followed it, and while trying to get his best friend off the highway, a car hit him. According to a relative, the dog now sits at the end of the driveway, waiting for him to come home.
How many of us would have done the same thing, ran after the pet with no thought to our own safety? Hopefully with not the same tragic results.
How many people would not leave their pets behind during Hurricane Katrina (and who knows how many other disasters)? The largest animal rescue effort ever, after Katrina, led to legislation mandating that people be allowed to take pets when being evacuated from a danger zone.
What would you do? Do you have a plan to take your best friends along if you have to suddenly leave your home? What if your house (God forbid) caught fire? Once again, people have been injured or worse when trying to rescue pets.
If you haven’t, start thinking about what to do in an emergency. In this fellow’s case, having the dog tethered in the car would have prevented it jumping out and running. Animals don’t understand things like a fender-bender, and their flight or fight reflex takes over.
Have carriers handy so if you have to get out quickly you have a place to put the pet – once you and the animal get outside, the noise, people, lights, and confusion will frighten the animal so much it might get loose and run off – or back into the building because it will not understand the danger there.
Have pet records where you can get them easily, have a travel kit made up if you live in an area where you might have to evacuate. If you travel with your animals, keep them secure in the vehicle. Think through a rescue plan so it’s in your mind if you need to use it.
And stop and think – rescuing your best friends is foremost, but at what peril to yourself? Don’t leave them sitting at the end of the driveway waiting for you to come home.
Our sympathies are with the man’s family – and with Babycakes.