Left out in the storm - Elderly woman braves storm after shelter rejects her dog

#JamaicaStar Battling fierce winds from Hurricane Melissa yesterday, a senior citizen, 76-year-old Empress, clutched the trolley tightly while peering inside -- where a brown and black terrier, dressed in a purple frock, lay huddled. The woman, visibly upset, explained that she chose to weather the storm on the street after being denied entry to a shelter because of her pet. "They said I cannot come into the shelter with my pet so decided to go out on the street and stay there then," said the woman. According to Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, animals are not allowed in public emergency shelters. For 76-year-old Empress, leaving her dog outside while she takes refuge from the menacing Melissa was non-negotiable. "I live a long way from here, in the hills, but I took the dog to the vet yesterday (Monday) evening and didn't get back home. They don't want my dog in the shelter and I am staying with her," she added. Connect with The Jamaica Star! Like us on Facebook: The Jamaica Star Tweet us on Twitter: JamaicaStar Follow us on Instagram:   / thejamaicastar   www.jamaica-star.com #ThePeoplesPaper