insent, Bonny.

What really floored me was the number of people who not only didn't evacuate their pets, but were surprised that I did.

I'm sure I'll hear sneers from all over the world when I say this, but honestly, had the liquor store gone up instead...and there was no time...I'd spend my last breath getting Bartleby out a window. Quite apart from my obvious love for him, I don't know how I would live with the guilt of leaving an innocent creature behind.

And please, before anyone challenges me on the human over animal value, recognize that I'm talking about living with MYSELF. Not making a statement about which is a higher priority.

It would be exactly the same if a stranger's child was in this building, instead of my dog.

Thanks so much, Vortex. I'll get in touch with her straight away.

I'd spend my last breath getting Bartleby out a window.

I don't think anyone here is surprised to hear it, knowing you as we do -- nor do I see this place ever jumping on you for it. I'm so glad you're both okay with nothing worse than some stanky smoke smell to show for it.

The problem I had with State Farm is that they are agent-centric. You can't just call an 800 number and get an answer about something. You have to talk to your agent. And my agent's office was responsive enough and nice but it still meant leaving message and waiting for them to get back to me, possibly at an inconvenient time. We switched everything to Geico a couple of months ago and that was a big part of the reason. (Although State Farm helps pay our bill's. They are Bob's company's big client.)

I'd grab my pets over anything else in a heartbeat. I'm thinking you all could have guessed that though. I am positive that I would risk my own life, and possibly kill myself, trying to save any of my pets, and possibly other peoples' pets, too. I know that I have no control over my immediate reaction to an animal being in harm's way. It's just my wiring. When my dog Wager was hit by a car (housemate was walking him, and he got away and ran into 19th Ave in SF), I heard housemate's scream from half block away, where I was inside the house. I ran out and ran right into traffic to retrieve my already dead dog. Traffic had not stopped, and I walked right into it. Completely stupid but it was my automatic reaction. (I did not know that Wager was already dead).

Fuck, should not have typed that out. Sobbing again. And that was 15 years ago.

bonny, SO relieved that no one was hurt and that at most, it's an inconvenience to you.

I also have renter's through State Farm. Auto through Geico. I had auto through State Farm for a few years, but Geico was cheaper when I got my new car. Haven't had issues with either.

I'd grab my pets over anything else in a heartbeat. I'm thinking you all could have guessed that though.

The evacuation plans I keep in my head, involve grabbing whichever cat is at hand, both if possible, and squishing hell out of 'em trying to carry them both down the fire ladder in my closet. I think I should take the soft-sided carrier upstairs. It's got a lovely shoulder strap, that would leave my hands free, and I can, in a pinch, shove both of them in it.

I think I should take the soft-sided carrier upstairs. It's got a lovely shoulder strap, that would leave my hands free, and I can, in a pinch, shove both of them in it.

Good plan. Dooooo eeeeeet noooooooow.

For me, emergency evacuation involves the three Ps, in order: 1. people (if unable to evacuate themselves) 2. pets 3. purse (which has most of the useful post-emergency stuff--ID, credit card, phone, address book, occasionally some money)

Everything else is gravy.