subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sat, Nov 28 2009 

Published: November 05, 2006 12:07 am    print this story   email this story  

Paw Prints: PETS Act protects animals in disasters

By Niki Laviolette
Special to the Tribune-Star

On Oct. 6, President Bush signed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (HR 3858) into law. The Humane Society of the United States has been working with Congress to ensure that animals will not be left behind in the next disaster. The legislation was also supported by the Doris Day Animal League, Best Friends Animal Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The HSUS was the first group to respond to Hurricane Katrina’s stranded animals. Some 10,000 animals were rescued in Louisiana and Mississippi but many others were left behind. An estimated 50,000 pets had been abandoned.

A city or state must submit a plan that details a disaster preparedness program to qualify for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The PETS Act will require the state and local emergency preparedness officials to include a plan of how they will accommodate households with pets or service animals.

Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that when given a choice, many people will remain behind with their pets, thus risking their lives. It is clear that it’s necessary to have a plan that includes populations with pets as a “matter of public safety.” Health and safety risks within a disaster area are only exacerbated by abandoned pets.

The PETS Act also authorizes federal funding to states to assist emergency shelter facilities that are pet-friendly. This act allows FEMA to provide assistance for people with pets and service animals, and for the animals themselves after a major disaster.

The bill was passed unanimously in the Senate and by 349 “ayes” in the House of Representatives. “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, HSUS president and CEO. Pacelle goes on to say that, “It’s important to have pets included in government disaster and evacuation planning, but responsibility still lies primarily with individual families to plan ahead and be prepared. If it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe for your pets.”

Currently there are more than 358 million pets in the United States living in 63 percent of the households.

print this story   email this story  





Television Tonight

Terre Haute Progress Retail health medical manufacturing education

Terre Haute



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Terre Haute

Terre Haute News Morning Headlines

Terre Haute ClickLocal

Terre Haute Tribune-Star Newspaper Dial-A-Pro

Terre Haute Tribune-Star Newspaper Live in the Clubs

Terre Haute News on Twitter

Today's Featured Jobs

Data Entry
DATA ENTRY.
We are in need of a
exp. person for full
time position for da-
ta entry, customer
...>MORE

Advertising Sales
ADVERTISING
SALES
$800-$1200 Weekly
Be your own boss.
Sell advertising to
businesses in your
...>MORE

See all ads

Today's Featured Autos

85 Ford F150
1985 ford F150 6cyl
with overdrive
$1500. 234-2969 or
249-7263

...>MORE

94 Buick
94 Buick LeSabre,
91K mi., good
shape, $2000-obo.
299-0711, 208-1988
...>MORE

See all ads

Today's Featured Homes

1509 2nd Ave
Clean 1bdrM apt,
$400/mo 1509 2nd
Ave . 870-5552

...>MORE

Woodgate East
Lg 3 bdr, 2 ba, gar-
den apts, w/pool,
in beautiful Wood-
gate East. W/D
hookup, all new ap-
...>MORE

See all ads

Today's Cool Stuff

Yorkies
AKC REG Yorkie
pups 2 females 8
weeks old 1st shots
& wormed, tiny $450
(765)569-7819 or
...>MORE

Ping Pong Table
Nasser’s Consign-
ment pingpong table
$100 reclinr $75 2355
3rd Ave 232- 7456
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index