Pets Evacuation Act Moves Forward
A federal law that will require local and state disaster plans
to include provisions for household pets and service animals
in the event of a major disaster or emergency is set to go back
to the House for final passage or to a conference committee
that will reconcile differences between the House and Senate
versions.
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a substitute to House
Resolution 3858, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards
Act, just before adjourning for the August recess. Senate
Bill 2548 is more comprehensive than the House measure, including
federal financial aid to states to create emergency shelters
for people with their animals and other assistance.
H.R. 3858, as originally introduced in the House, was approved
by that chamber in May by a vote of 349 to 24.
“The House and Senate have taken an important step
in ensuring that Americans will never again be forced to make
an impossibly difficult choice: Leave their animal behind
while they flee a disaster or take their chances by staying
in a disaster-stricken area with their pet,” said Wayne
Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of The Humane
Society of the United States (Washington), which lobbied for
the bill’s speedy approval.
Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New Mexico and Vermont have passed state legislation dealing
with animal disaster planning and response. Many other states
also are considering such legislation. [November 2006 PET
AGE]
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