House and Senate Give New Hope for Pets

Good news for companion animals facing disaster situations!

Delvin (DJ) Simmons, is happily reunited with Coco. IFAW reunited Coco, a female, eight month old terrier mix with her owner, Charlene Simmons. The Simmons and Coco were separated in Louisiana during the family's evacuation from Hurricane Katrina. The reunion was made possible by IFAW.

The PETS Act, mentioned in an earlier blog post, passed both the House and the Senate and will now be enacted as a federal law. The PETS Act (Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act) will encourage local and state organizations to include pets in disaster preparedness efforts, requesting that pets and service animals be allowed to evacuate with their owners.

The PETS Act not only brings new hope for the survival of our dearest friends, our pets, but it also acts as a prerequisite for FEMA grants. For any group applying for a FEMA grant for disaster preparation or relief, pet evacuation must be a component of those plans.

The Act received unanimous consent in the House as the last step towards becoming active. Please send a thank you to your state representatives for supporting this huge milestone for pets!