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Find out more about Teri: A life-long pet owner, Teri Webster is a professional journalist who has worked in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth and New York. She is owned by Jasper, a crazy Jack Russell Terrier. |
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When evacuation orders came, emergency crews told residents they couldn't bring their animals along. Tens of thousands of animals became homeless or perished, and people died because they refused to leave their pets behind as Katrina hammered the Gulf coast in August 2005.
If the animals and their owners were not separated, many of them would have survived, said Haley.
The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards act aims to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. The law, signed by President Bush in 2006, requires cities and states to include companion animals in disaster planning.
Lessons they teach us
If pets can teach us on a scale as massive and tragic as Katrina, are there other lessons in store?
Kam Hunt, an associate pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, recently used a Great Dane named Tuff and two Yorkshire Terriers to illustrate the Bible story of how Joshua and Caleb believed they could defeat giants in the promised land.
The skit took place before an audience of junior high school students at the church.
"Tuff came rolling out there, and the Yorkies started to bark at him," said Hunt. "Small dogs don't know how big they are. They almost barked him down. Everyone got excited, and it was one of the best illustrations I've seen."
It seemed natural to have the dogs in the skit, Hunt said.
Tarina Brooks, who owns Tuff, is hoping the idea of using dogs in church ministries will catch on in the Dallas area.
The two-year-old Tuff is so friendly and trainable that Brooks said she wondered if "he could be used for God's kingdom."
"It's the job that God gave to us; to have domain over the animals," said Brooks, a professional animal trainer. "They don't have anyone else to turn to and it's up to us to care for them. God loves animals, and He refers to them many times in scriptures."
Mariners Church Lighthouse Ministries in Irvine, Calif., has a team of ministry dogs that reach out to disadvantaged kids and help people experience unconditional love. The program has grown over the past several years to include nearly a dozen dogs on the team and another dozen in training, said Paul Bogenrief, a volunteer coach in the childrens' ministry.
"Sometimes volunteers start ministries that people on staff have never thought of, and they are wildly successful," said Bogenrief. "There are probably more people who want to be involved in the dog ministry than can be."
Part of the reason is that all of the ministry dogs must be registered with Therapy Dogs International.
Becoming a therapy dog requires a passing a test that demonstrates stellar obedience and an even temperament.
The Mariners ministry dogs attend most events and provide comfort to kids living in motels, foster children, and at-risk inner city kids, Bogenrief said.
The dogs were also part of a vacation Bible school last year, with about 2,100 kids and 1,000 volunteers in attendance.
When the ministry dogs aren't helping kids, they're out greeting the general public.
"It opens up the conversation and gives you the chance to evangelise to people," Bogenrief said. "You can reach people who have never even thought about coming to church."
The dogs wear a cape with a logo on it, and people will often ask about it, Bogenrief said.
"You can introduce the dog and say it's part of a ministry; and you can ask the person if they attend church," he said.
A painful goodbye
There is yet another reason to include pets in ministries, adovcates say.
Best Friends often hears from people who are hurt and disappointed when their pastors, ministers, rabbis, and other religious leaders are insensitive to the grief they feel over losing a pet, said Haley.
On the other hand, some religious leaders are afraid of alienating members of their congregations by preaching about animals.
But people will turn to their faith when facing a loss. And for some, the loss of a pet can be just as devastating -- sometimes even more -- than losing a friend or family member.
Fairwinds Pet Memorial Services in Phoenix, Ariz., caters to people who want a funeral for their pets.
"It's a new concept," said Mary Rauchwarter, manager of Fairwinds. "I've gone to some churches and they kind of look at me like,'What?' "
Fairwinds provides cremations and full funeral services that reach into the $4,000 range.
Some church leaders have said they disapprove of funeral services for pets because pets don't have souls, Rauchwarter said.
"But many religions make a spot for pets, and it's important to have a ministry for the people who are left behind," she said.
Others turn to animal rescue groups or veterinary schools that offer phone counseling for coping with the loss of a pet. Best Friends has a monthly toll-free grief support conference call, with people participating from all over the country, Haley said.
One of the biggest questions is whether there are animals in heaven, she said.
"The arguement I've heard the most is that if Jesus returns from heaven on a white horse, then how did the horse get there?"
Diane Pomerance, a national pet expert and author of several books, created a grief counseling program with the SPCA of Texas.
The loss of companionship when a pet dies can lead to depression. And, it cuts across all socio-economic backgrounds, said Pomerance, a certified grief recovery specialist.
"The majority of them come in because they are in a state of total depression and despair," she said.
Pomerance helps them to work through the grief and to pay homage to their pet.
"People ask, 'Did my dog's life have a purpose?'" said Pomerance. "I ask them what they've learned and lessons always come to mind.
"We learn compassion."
YouTube video of a dog participating in a church mass
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