See, this is what I was talking about

I just saw this blog ad, which is a perfect example of what I was talking about earlier:


















If you are having trouble reading the text, it says:

Federal authorities are forcing many evacuees to choose between bringing vital medicine and their dog. This is illegal and must stop.

I'd like to know exactly how that is illegal. Is there a law that says that authorities cannot tell people they must leave behind their pets when their lives are in mortal danger?

The ad links to this webpage, which belongs to - no surprise here - PETA. There is absolutely no indication how PETA came to the conclusion that making people leave their pets behind is illegal. No laws are referenced. I emailed PETA to see if they could clarify the issue for me, but it might take some time for them to get back to me.

As to the choice, I mean, my gosh! If you can't choose between your non-vital pet(s) and your vital medicine(s), there is something seriously wrong with your thought processes.

UPDATE: I received auto-responses to my email to PETA. If I ever get a responses from actual person, it could take up to 2 weeks for it to come through. In the meantime, I found PETA's news release regarding the alleged illegality of making people leave pets behind:

Following reports that crews evacuating people in Louisiana are making them choose between their luggage or their dogs, cats, birds, and guinea pigs, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is issuing an emergency alert today reminding evacuation teams that it is illegal under Louisiana law to abandon an animal and that evacuees must be permitted to bring their animals with them. Local authorities including the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LASPCA) have announced that people who choose to abandon their animals will be charged with cruelty to animals.

“You can replace things, but it’s against the law to leave any animals to die of starvation,” says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. “It’s unconscionable to make these people, who have already gone through so much this week, have to choose between their only remaining personal belongings and their beloved animals, who truly are members of their families.”

Suffice it to say, it does not answer my question. They are simply using the vague "cruelty to animals" angle to justify their argument that it is illegal to make people leave their pets behind. Well, if we're going to use the "cruelty to animals" argument, then I guess the rescue teams should be trying to save the vermin, too. (Note that PETA doesn't mention those animals.) Yes, let's spend valuable time, money and other resources and risk the lives of the people on the rescue teams in order to save all the animals. Screw the humans.