Disaster Preparedness: Pets

Some people don't get pets, aka the human-animal bond. I have to admit that I don't totally get it sometimes. However, if the choice was a boat or leaving Chloe, I'm not certain if I would say, "Chloe, let's dog paddle together," but I'm kind of tearing up thinking about it.
PostWatch: About Those washingtonpost.com Columnists...

Crofton, Md.: Hi Marc -- Question about human behavior (mine). I am horrified at the destruction along the Gulf Coast. I see bodies in the water and felt terrible but sadly not half as bad as I feel when I see a dog, cat, etc., dead or in distress from the storm! Am I hopeless? I can look at CNN and watch coverage of body removal but I immediately turn the channel when it is an animal! Why?

Marc Fisher: Beats me. But then again, I cannot fathom why all these folks who stayed behind to take care of their pets would risk their lives for an animal that they could easily replace at any pet store.