Pet law could help in escape

A pair of different yet closely-related proposed laws may change the way pets are protected in case of a natural disaster or emergency. Louisiana’s Pet Evacuation Bill SB-607 calls for provisions to be made for pets in case of an evacuation.

With Hurricane Katrina’s deadly storm, thousands of pets were left stranded and many succumbed to dehydration and starvation, Parks and Recreation representative Charlotte Childers said.

“We get our share of severe weather right here in Corsicana,” Childers said.

U.S. House bill HR-3858 was brought to the forefront in Washington but is not rescheduled as of yet.

Bill HR-3858 is an amendment of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that state and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.

“We simply cannot have another repeat of Katrina,” Childers said. “So many animals were left behind.”

Childers encourages anyone in the community interested in the proposed bill to contact Congressman Joe Barton toll-free at (877) 263-2833 to support the bill.

“The bill in Louisiana is a statement about the value of pets,” Childers said. “It is not a good sign that if we had a major tornado, evacuations would be another Louisiana as the plans stand right now.”

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AJ Narasimhan can be reached via e-mail at ajn@corsicanadailysun.com