The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Pets
Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act on
August 4, which would require that state and
local authorities address how they will
accommodate household pets and service animals
in the emergency preparedness plans they must
submit to qualify for grants from the Federal
Emergency Management Authority (FEMA)
The bill is designed to prevent a repetition of
the Hurricane Katrina scenario in which many
people had to choose between remaining in
high-risk disaster-stricken areas with their
pets and leaving the animals behind when they
evacuated.
The Senate substitute for the original House
bill (H.R. 3858) will furthermore grant FEMA the
authority to assist in preparing evacuation
plans, authorize financial help to states to
create emergency shelters for people with their
animals, and allow the provision of essential
assistance for individuals with household pets
and service animals, and the animals themselves,
following a major disaster.
After the August recess, the House can either
accept the stronger Senate version of the Pets
Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act or
send it to conference committee for
reconciliation of the House and Senate measures
before it goes to President Bush for his
signature.
