[ SHOWGSD-L ] CONGRESS PASSES AKC-SUPPORTED VERSION OF "PETS" B...
- From: Crossroadsgsd@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2006 01:11:47 EDT
--Bill Addresses Challenges Faced By Pet Owners During Disasters--
New York, NY - This week, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
passed by unanimous consent the "Pets Evacuation and Transportation
Standards Act of 2006," known as "PETS." PETS addresses the problems
experienced by pet owners before, during and after the 2005 hurricane
season. The enacted bill includes the stronger Senate language -- which the
AKC supported and lobbied for-- rather than the weaker House version of the
bill. The bill now goes to the President, who is expected to sign it.
Amidst evacuation for hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many pet owners were
forced to leave their pets behind because emergency relief agencies,
transportation facilities and shelters were not equipped to accommodate
them. This caused some persons to resist evacuation orders, slowing down the
process and putting human life at risk. Equally problematic was the public
reaction to the widespread publicity given to the plight of the pets that
were left behind. A recent AKC survey revealed that 67 percent of pet owning
households nationwide said they would refuse future evacuation orders if
they were unable to take their pets with them.
The PETS bill requires that disaster relief and emergency management
agencies include provisions for the needs of households and individuals with
pets and service animals in disaster relief plans as a condition for federal
approval of such plans. The bill also makes providing services to
individuals with household pets and service animals a legitimate activity on
which to spend emergency and disaster relief funding, and authorizes the
federal government to provide funds to states and local authorities for
animal emergency preparedness purposes, and for procurement, construction,
leasing, or renovating of emergency shelter facilities that will accommodate
people with pets and service animals.
AKC President Dennis Sprung commended the Congressional action, saying "I
want to thank the Congress for acting promptly and decisively to address
this problem. This legislation will go a long way in assuring that the
disastrous situation that occurred in 2005 is not repeated. I also want to
thank the many members of the purebred dog fancy who supported and helped
advocate for the passage of this important legislation."
Sprung also noted that the successful passage of the PETS bill was a
collaborative effort involving many animal interest organizations and AKC
was pleased to be a leader among them.
During the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, the AKC sent staff to the
affected areas to assist with the needs of displaced animals and affected
fanciers. Many individuals as well as 545 AKC clubs and organizations made
donations to the AKC/CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund, enabling AKC to
organize and support multiple airlifts transporting dogs to facilities out
of the affected region. In addition, AKC recently hired a full-time employee
who is responsible for coordinating disaster relief efforts on behalf of the
AKC and AKC/CAR.
Cathleen Bennett & Joe Guay
Rialto, Ca
_www.crossroadsgsd.com_ (http://www.crossroadsgsd.com/)
Raised with LOVE, Sold with Care
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