What if it's a ferret, or a hamster, or cat or bird or smaller dog?
Smaller animals can be tucked in shirts, sat on laps, put under seats,
etc.
 
As to the Mother and Great Dane I'd find a way to take both.  Sit the
Great Dane on one of the rescuers lap.  Or if I'm one of the rescuers,
leave me and come back for me later.  In the meantime I'll be searching
the area for more lives that need rescued.  If it's a situation where
there isn't a way to rescue both lives at that moment, I'll stay behind
with the dog, with food and water, and WE can be picked up later or I'll
swim with the dog to safety.  We aren't talking about more than a few
miles of water and in some places no water at all.  The very least that
can be done is to leave food and water for the stranded animals and
report their location to the animal rescuers that in the area.
 
This disaster shouldn't be about who gets rescued.  All beings should.
Rescue to me means saving lives, not choosing who's life is to be saved.
 
Ms. Troy Lynn Eckart, F.B.S.
Ferret Family Services
http://www.ferretfamilyservices.org
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/
Please sign up to support our efforts
http://www.iGive.com/FFS
[Posted in FML issue 4996]