Louisiana bill proposes legislation: emergency evacuation for PETS =)

[Bluebear]

SLIDELL, La. — As the Pontchartrain Humane Society was working Saturday to match rescued pets with new owners at its first Pet Adoption Day since Hurricane Katrina, a Louisiana state senator was preparing to introduce legislation he hoped would prevent widespread separation of owners and pets during any future emergency.

Thousands of pets were rescued in the wreckage of abandoned houses or found wandering the streets of Louisiana and Mississippi towns after the storm.

n some cases, owners were forced to leave their pets behind because rescue teams were obliged to concentrate on saving human lives; and shelters where evacuees were taken would rarely accommodate animals.

"I felt we were derelict in our duties to the citizens of Louisiana, because we didn't make arrangements for pets," said state Sen. Heulette "Clo" Fontenot, who planned to formally introduce legislation Monday that would ensure that an emergency evacuation plan specifically for pets is put into place. "I don't think we recognize that pet-human bond that was there, and a lot of people refused to evacuate because they weren't going to leave their pets behind," Fontenot said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-pets26mar26,1,7592180.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

[dusty64]

1. This is a long time

coming, better late than never.

[Bluebear]

3. kick

[dusty64]

2. This is a long time

coming, better late than never.

[Marnieworld]

4. Thank goodness!

If Cuba can rescue the animals when they rescue people during their hurricanes why can't we? It's hard enough that so many had to lose their homes but their animal friends as well. I have two dogs and the pain would have been unbearable. I'm sure that some people died because of this too. Just have them in crates in the shelters. Would that be so hard? Every dog story from Katrina was so hard to take. I'm glad that someone in power is at least trying to address this especially since there will only be more storms coming.