Oh, My! What a can of worms!

I seemed to have opened up a can of worms with my latest post on the animals of Hurricane Katrina.
I realise that this is a very controversial topic and that there are many sides to it. While I believe that the animals should be returned to their rightful owners I can (somewhat) understand the other side.
But I do agree with HickChic completely when she says there is a lack of communication. I believe that people who are searching for their pets must continue the lines of communication and anyone who has recently adopted a pet "abandoned" by Hurricane Katrina is responsible for ensuring the original owners are not looking for their pets.
I also agree with Dilling who says that it would be hard for the new adoptive family as well. The families who have adopted the pets would love and care for the animals the same way as the original owners but they also knew and willingly signed an agreement stating that if the original owners returned that they must return the pets.
In some respects these 'adoptions' could be considered glorified dogsitting. As much as you love the new addition to your home, the agreement was that the animals would be returned should the owner come looking.
I must agree with Life or Something Like it when they wrote that it is upsetting that these new owners refuse to return the pets. They claim these pets were "abandoned" but like with the man who lost his dog Max, he called every shelter, hotel etc., and there was absolutely no room for his pets. So what could he do? He put out five gallons of water and as much food as possible and hoped for the best. His dog was not abandoned, he simply ran out of options.
This whole event has been a desperate cry for the human race to pull together to rebuild the lines of communication and strengthen communities. In some respects this hurricane has brought people together to rebuild homes, buildings and physical structures but what about rebuilding trust, respect and communication?
You would think an event like this would make people realise the value of relationships, the value of life.
This event was devasting enough and instead of pulling together to make a better, stronger community, people who have already lost everything are now fighting in courts for the safe return of pets.