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Friends,
Since we're talking 'pets'...in a country going through it's worse 'natural
disaster' of property damage...perhaps human loss...and who knows how many
animals...I thought this story might interest you.
After riding out the elements of Hurricane Katrina in around the area of Metaire
and Kenner, LA...just barely at the edge of New Orleans...staying at a Motel
which they felt would be more structurally sound than their homes...my friends
were able to return to their slightly damaged homes just 15 mins. SE of New
Orleans. However, all the necessities of life...electricity, water, food,
hygiene facilities, telephone service, etc were gone. Their family consisted
of 4 households. They could not reach 'Dad's home' to see what the damage
might have been due to rising waters, but he is safe with them. Then there is
one daughter and her girl of about 12, and his other daughter and her 2 boys,
one 18, the other 7. Actually, from the 4th household...the 18 year's
father...who stayed with them so he could be with his son. All wanted to leave
the area...but Dad...set in his ways...chose to stay and the daughters could not
change his mind...nor abandon him. I pray, if there would be a next time...he
will have a different insight.
They weathered the storm fairly well...but not without elements of danger and
shear fear...but they're all OK. Yesterday, they went to each of the daughters
homes...I remind you, unable to get to Dad's home. The 96 degree humid
temperature was unbearable, as was the lack of facilities. Somehow one of the
daughter's still had telephone service. So she stayed up the entire night
dialing motel after motel, waiting through busy circuit periods, not getting any
sleep trying to find a motel for them all to stay in. She was finally able to
find one with 2 rooms in Lakes Charles, though they needed three. Then by
chance she happened upon
Lake Charles Microtel Inn & Suites
on
Lake
Street
in Lake Charles, LA
who, after her 2nd call to them, had the necessary 3 rooms she needed, due to
cancellations.
She made
it clear they had pets and was told OK.
They drove 5 hours today...not even stopping to eat...so they could meet
commitment times and not lose their reservations. When they arrived they were
told by the staff of
Microtel
Inn
that they had it's 'quota of pets' and couldn't take them in.
Imagine
that...they didn't hide anything...they told
Microtel
Inn
of their pets, and they accepted their reservations.
My friends have been through the worst hurricane conditions of their
lives....though they know how blessed they have been to have fared much better
than many. They've had their house pets with them the entire time and fared
well. They make reservations to get away from these miserable conditions...for
them and their house pets...driving 5 hours, content, though exhausted, knowing
they're be comfortable for the next 3 nights...to be told
'you
can't stay here'.
They were offered directions to an animal shelter, in spite of the
otherwise, rudeness of the staff. They 'snippily' turned down even a request to
use their telephone for just a minute, being told it was for business use
only...and then turned their backs to my friends, and talked amongst
themselves.
My friends just barely made it to the other motel...the
one with the 2 rooms available. Thankfully, they had not cancelled those
reservations. That motel accommodated them and their pets, as was agreed upon.
There was quite a difference in attitude...compassionate and understanding
personnel who were kind and gracious. I talked to the staff several times, and
I could sense their demeanor of feeling the need to help folks out.
Mind you now, I heard all this just minutes after I listened to the
President of the United States, President Bush...tell
of 'story after story' of 'kindness and generosity' extended to people of the
area...all the way thorough the troubled gulf, even into neighboring states.
What happened to the 'kindness and goodness and compassion' of the people that
worked at this particular motel? They lost it...or never had it...is more my
quess. You see...I cannot imagine that anyone could not feel the despair of
those coming from such a 'tangled mass of damage and destruction' that would not
be compassionate and give exception to their 'quota' of animals. Something is
desperately wrong with their mindset.
Let me go a bit further, I called a gift shop...A
Daisy A Day Flowers & Gifts...and
told the gentleman the situation and asked for a 'gift basket' to be delivered
to them as soon once they registered in their motel. He agreed to do so...and
we worked out the details. It was filled with snack good, drinks, cookies,
anything you could imagine that kids and adults like to snack on. When I told
him of my dilemma...the motel change...he very kindly agreed to deliver it to
the other location. My friends said he was so kind and compassionate and they
were so overwhelmed by the 'gift' since they had not eaten all day. In fact the
seven year old boy started to cry, he was so happy. Both the 18 year young man
and his 7 year old brother thanked me personally on the telephone. I was
totally overwhelmed with their respect and appreciation...but never so much as
when the 7 year old said 'we are going to pray for you'.
My friends...I do not understand the lack of compassion some people have. I
guess God will have his say with them 'in HIS time'.
God Bless you and I hope somehow this story can be shared...
Jo Ann S.
PS: If not on Petwarmers...just around to your friends who can pass it
further. I want people to see the 'difference in compassion and the lack
thereof''.
Let me add...one of the girls is an efriend who lost her husband in February
after a 3 year battle with cancer. I help her with 'bereavement'...so you can
imagine she is hurting in so many more ways now.
(c) 2005 JoAnn Smotrees |
