You don't know me, of course, but I would be the LAST person on earth to flame you for caring about the animals left behind in this disaster. A few days ago, a particularly cruel individual was posting on a thread about the abandoned pets that the pets should be left behind. Animals must come last, yada, yada, yada. Had me in tears. Kept saying real Christians would not worry about the animals -- something to that effect.
Finally I reminded the dope about the story of Noah and the Ark. In that story, God told Noah to save not only his family, but the animals. The example of Noah's Ark says that it is entirely possible to save both humans and people simultaneously. The two are rarely mutually exclusive. In fact, God wanted Noah to do it, so I figure what's good enough for Noah is good enough for me.
The Noah's Ark story is exactly what comes to my mind when I hear people talk that way. God Himself directed Noah to save animals,when people were going to be destroyed. I packed my four big dogs from here to Texas when I went to my sister's in Texas a few days after the hurricane,because I knew that I couldn't expect the relief effort to spare water and food for animals. Now THAT was an experience,let me tell you-thank goodness for a sister with a fenced-in yard,a big heart,and a high stress threshold:)
To a lot of pet-owners, thier pets are a part of the family.