No time for petitions or regrets. Time to get active NOW. Building may demo tomorrow.
I'm still sharing it. But it doesn't look too promising for moving the PTB's because they have already made their decision, it seems.
At this time Elsa is not projected to be make landfall anywhere near Miami. When it does get to Florida it is projected to be a tropical storm. Let's hope it stays that way.I signed the petition (the tally is going up fast, a lot of people signing it), but this is a very grim situation. I hope they change their mind and try to save those animals. They want to get this done before Hurricane Elsa makes landfall and ends up knocking the building down and cause the debris to fly everywhere. Saying lots of prayers!!!
I tend not to be very "political" but my loathing of Rudy Giuliani began after 9/11 when he refused to allow people to check on their beloved companion animals. I will never forgive him for that, and it turned out that he ran true to character in all of the years that have followed.
My most fervent *Prayers* are going up for them. May they be found and gotten to safe haven right away. DO NOT GIVE UP. And keep signing that petition, everyone, because our voices may have power and our intentions may help in this effort.
Residents who were present when they wanted the building evacuated were allowed to pack clothing/toiletries/small valuables before they left, so those who had pets had better have taken them with them at that time. All of these folks were forewarned they were not likely to get back into the building again.
At this point, they indicated that they are going ahead with plans regardless. Their is a trap set out for a missing cat. I hope it is caught and any other pet before the demolition of the Surfside building.
Their were rescuers who volunteered to rescue the abandoned pets, but despite their best efforts some pets didn't make it. Why are pets in certain crisis situations left behind? The other question is and this is probably the case with Surfside, if you are away and a calamity happens where your reside or near where you reside, how is your pet going to be saved? If you are on vacation, take the pet with you or place in a Kennel/cattery or let your pet stay with trusted family or friends. Those are reasonable solutions, but what about when you are at work? 
The harsh truth is that, if no one is home and there is no access to units by trusted rescuers, this is what happens. And in a crisis, where a building is unstable as happened on the 24th June, people may not be able to get cats who have run under beds or into hard-to-access areas to hide. This is why I will not live in a multi-story edifice and why I have carriers at the ready. Many people cannot live in single-family dwellings, I know. I've lived in apartments before and I have never been truly comfortable in them for this reason and because whenever there are other people involved, you have unknown variables. Does someone next to you smoke? Are they cognizant, or do they leave burners on the stove on? It's a tremendous amount to think about. Anyone who lives with kids, elders, and/or companion animals and truly cares about them has these concerns.At this point, they indicated that they are going ahead with plans regardless. Their is a trap set out for a missing cat. I hope it is caught and any other pet before the demolition of the Surfside building.
This heartbreaking situation raises questions regarding evacuations and rescues in crisis situation. For example after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, people who were rescued from there homes were told to leave their pets behind!
Anyway, I just thought I put this question out there. Still praying for a miracle Surfside pets. This is truly heart wrenching.
There is no reason at this point to revere the sanctity of privacy in a condemned building. So, the rescuers are breaking into units to find whatever animals they can find. Does that mean they will be able to catch them all? No, probably not - but they aren't being 'dainty' in their attempts to grab the ones they can - anyway they can. A traumatized cat from being grabbed in whatever manner they can be is better than a dead cat. That is the harsh reality. They are doing what they can.
...and knowing how tough cats can be in crises makes me think they are alive.
I didn't know about the laws passed after Hurricane Katrina. I wasn't as tuned in to things as I am now. 7:24pm??? Then it is done. RIP to all the people and animals who perished.
I can barely type this because my eyes are so teary. We will never forget this horrible tragedy!!!
