Posted by Darcy on May 9, 2006, 9:35 am Acme House of Cats / Cross posting... WASHINGTON-The Humane Society of the United States called on Congress to take swift action on the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, which would require local and state disaster plans to include provisions for household pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster or emergency. The Senate bill, S.2548, was introduced today by U.S. Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). The House bill, H.R. 3858, introduced last fall by U.S. Reps. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Chris Shays (R-CT), today passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Senate PETS bill calls for emergency preparedness plans to include consideration of people with pets and service animals before a disaster strikes. It also grants the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the authority to assist in developing plans to meet the needs of individuals with pets and service animals, and allows financial help for states to create and operate emergency shelters for people with their animals. When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, many citizens put themselves in danger when they refused to evacuate their flooded and destroyed homes because they didn't want to abandon their pets. Many people were forced to leave without their pets, adding tremendous anguish for these hurricane victims who had already lost everything. "During Katrina and Rita, the world's attention was riveted not only on the human victims, but also the animals," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "Pets and other animals needed a helping human hand, and animal welfare organizations and advocates deployed to assist them. But the animals needed a far stronger and coordinated government response, and that's precisely what the PETS Act seeks to accomplish. We are grateful to Senators Stevens and Lautenberg for introducing this important legislation today." The House version of the bill, sponsored by Reps. Lantos and Shays, now has about 90 co-sponsors, including the key support of Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young (R-AK) and Ranking Member James Oberstar (D-MN). The bill was approved today by the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "What we saw during Katrina was that the human rescue and relief effort could not be separated from the animal rescue effort," added Pacelle. "Any effective disaster plan must take into account the incredible bond between people and their pets. We commend Representatives Lantos, Shays, Young, and Oberstar for their leadership in the House, and hope the Senate will move the bill forward quickly, too." Currently, there are more than 358 million pets in the United States residing in 63 percent of American households. Some states and localities have done extensive planning to coordinate plans with local animal care and control agencies. When Texas called for evacuations in advance of Hurricane Rita, and Florida called for evacuations in advance of Hurricane Wilma, Gov. Rick Perry and Gov. Jeb Bush were clear in stating that evacuees should bring their pets along. Maine and New Mexico have passed state legislation, and California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont are now considering bills dealing with animal disaster planning and response. **Save Pets From the Next Hurricane** Please call your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to co-sponsor the PETS Act (S. 2548 & H.R. 3858) if he or she has not already done so.
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I'm glad my state of Maine has passed this ~ I wish the other states in New England would do the same. New England / East Coast is due, hate to say it... But...it has been stated many times before NE is over-due! And at this point, I think everybody in EVERY state should have their OWN plan
Help prevent what happened after Katrina from ever happening again. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act) of 2005 (S. 2548 & H.R. 3858) requires state and local authorities to take into consideration the needs of individuals with pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster. You could help save thousands of people and pets from anguish-even loss of life-during the next major disaster, just by asking your U.S. Representative and Senators to support this bill.
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