Rep. Tom Lantos, D-California, Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Connecticut, and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Massaschusetts sponsored a bill that would require state and local emergency preparedness plans that are submitted for FEMA to include provisions for household pets and service animals.
This is a direct result of people refusing to leave Louisiana without their pets in tow before Hurricane Katrina and now with Hurricane Rita bearing down, may become an issue again.
“I cannot help but wonder how many more people could have been saved had they been able to take their pets,” Rep. Tom Lantos, D-California, said Thursday.
I personally would have a very hard time, if I could do it at all, evacuating my home and leaving my pets. Frankly, no one should be asked to evacuate in an emergency and be expected to leave their pets behind. This bill will be a step in the right direction, but more will be needed.
Contact your Representatives in Washington and tell them that you support this bill and any bill that helps save the lives of Pets as well as their People.
From a story on Cnn.com
Technorati Tags: Washington, Pets, Tom Lantos, Christopher Shays, Barney Frank, FEMA, Rita, Katrina, Louisiana, hurricane
About Shane Ede
This is one of those issues where my wife and I would think differently. One of us would hesitate to leave, possibly to the point of hesitating too long. The other would not hesitate to leave, but would feel bad about leaving the pet.
Thankfully, we’ve not been in such a situation.
Of course, out pets are goldfish.