The Humane Society of the United States is supporting legislation to make sure what happened to the pets affected by Katrina never happens again.
The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, H.R. 3858 (PETS Act), would require state and local authorities to include pets and service animals in their disaster evacuation plans. 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 to support this bill.
Go to the USHS to take action now.
UPDATE
Here’s more information. This truly seems like a bi-partisan effort, with Representatives Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) introducing the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Here is the bill itself. It’s very short and to the point:
Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)
HR 3858 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3858
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 22, 2005
Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. OBERSTAR, and Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2005′.
SEC. 2. STANDARDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OPERATIONAL PLANS.
Section 613 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196b) is amended–
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
`(g) Standards for State and Local Emergency Preparedness Operational Plans- In approving standards for State and local emergency preparedness operational plans pursuant to subsection (b)(3), the Director shall ensure that such plans take into account the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.’.
