BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM

During natural disaster response and recovery, the welfare of animals is often passed over. People often refuse to evacuate because they do not want to leave their animals behind. When people do elect to evacuate, the emotional impact of the loss of their pets can be significant. FEMA has historically relied on voluntary agencies to help obtain veterinary care and relocation efforts for animals that are affected by the event. 

The senate passed the Planning for Animal Wellness (PAW) Act to help protect animals during and after a natural disaster or emergency. The PAW Act states the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must establish an advisory group to align FEMA guidance with best practices in animal care during disaster preparedness, response and recovery. 

The bill will hopefully mitigate instances of people having to choose between pets and evacuating for natural disaster events. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH). The bill goes next to the House of Representatives. 

The bill has been endorsed by several animal welfare agencies including the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Humane Society of the United States. 

The announcement of the bill at the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs can be accessed at https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/majority-media/senate-passes-peters-and-portman-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-pets-and-other-animals-during-and-after-natural-disasters-.