There is one more dimension I'd like to add to this discussion.

It is not all that unusual to hear of neighborhoods having enforced evacuations because. of a train derailing somewhere and dangerous chemicals being spilled from the freight cars. Sometimes the people are not allowed back into the area for several days or more.

That is only one example of something that can happen to keep you away from your home and your imprisoned pets. I recently saw a letter to the editor reminding people to leave much larger rations of water for your pets when you leave for work in the morning. You just never know when some unexpected circumstance might keep you away for days at a time.

I don't want to even think about how many pets were stranded in the apartment buildings closer to the Twin Towers in NYC on 9/11. Sill, I'm wondering if building managers had had lists of the number of pets and locations within the buildings...perhaps some authorities could have gone in to release the pets before they died from lack of water. (probably not).
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