Summary:
Over 30 states have laws or emergency operation plans that provide for the evacuation, rescue, and recovery of animals in the event of a disaster (including the District of Columbia). The inclusion of pet-related provisions in these laws and emergency operation plans occurred after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Reports suggest that people were reluctant to evacuate without pets and/or service animals, and little planning was implemented on the transportation and sheltering of pets. Pets were also impounded in shelters and often never reunited with their owners. In 2006, the federal Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 5196a-d (2006)) was passed. PETS directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop emergency preparedness plans and ensure that state and local emergency plans that consider the needs of individuals with pets and service animals during a major disaster or emergency. Many state laws require that animals be sheltered and evacuated during an emergency. While these plans differ from state to state, most address several key elements, which include the care of companion animals, the implementation of state animal response teams, the sheltering of animals, and identification of recovered animals.