For the pet lovers
What's At Stake?
Save Pets From the Next Disaster
Hurricane Katrina flooded streets and homes, displacing thousands of people. The hurricane also exposed many flaws in our nation's emergency preparedness programs. Putting homes and lives back together will take some time, but there is one problem we can solve fairly easily--with your help.
Many of our city and state disaster plans don't include plans for rescuing people with pets. You probably saw the tragic consequences after Hurricane Katrina: cats and dogs left behind to suffer hunger, thirst, and loneliness, and people suffering too because they did not want to leave behind their beloved companions.
The PETS Act (S. 2548 and H.R. 3858) would require state and local authorities to plan for people and pets, including service animals, in future disasters.
Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) have introduced the PETS Act in the Senate (S. 2548). The House bill (H.R. 3858) was introduced last fall by U.S. Reps. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Chris Shays (R-CT) and recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a landslide vote of 349-24.
Now it's time for the Senate to act just as decisively. Please urge your U.S. Senators to co-sponsor and support the PETS Act.