Animal Bill Introduced to Prevent Future Katrina-Rita Pet Tragedies
Thursday September 29, 2005
Press Release from Congressmen Tom Lantos and Christopher Shays:Washington, DC - Congressmen Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT), Co-Chairs of the Friends of Animals Caucus, today introduced legislation to ensure that in any future disaster, federal officials will not separate people from their household pets and service animals such as seeing-eye dogs, as they did in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
We've all seen the photos and videos:
The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act, H.R. 3858) requires local and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans how they will accommodate household pets or service animals (such as seeing-eye dogs) in case of a disaster. Local and state authorities must submit these plans in order to qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Although it doesn't require any direct federal action, this bill does go a long way toward preventing the tragedies we've seen as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
The bill is supported by the animal welfare organizations that have played a major role in the post-Katrina devastation: the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Doris Day Animal League and the Best Friends Animal Society. You can show your own support of PETS Act, H.R. 3858 by contacting Congressmen Lantos and Shay, along with your own representatives.
Previous Coverage of Hurricane Katrina Animal News
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