SACRAMENTO, CA (September 29, 2006) – United Animal Nations (UAN), the organization that pioneered disaster relief for animals nearly 20 years ago, today applauded Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing into law a bill that will incorporate animals into the state’s disaster plan.

AB 450, introduced by Assemblymember Leland Yee, PhD (D-San Francisco/Daly City), requires the Department of Agriculture, the Office of Emergency Services and other agencies to develop a memorandum of understanding or plan that includes the needs of service animals, livestock, equines and individuals with household pets following a major disaster or emergency. 

“Hurricane Katrina was a wake-up call because nobody was prepared to help residents with pets or service animals, and many lives were lost as a result,” said UAN President and CEO Nicole Forsyth. “We applaud our legislators and Governor Schwarzenegger for recognizing that animals play a vital role in our society and any disaster plan that excludes them is incomplete.”  

A recent Fritz Institute-Harris Interactive survey revealed that 44 percent of individuals who did not evacuate New Orleans chose to stay behind because they had nowhere to bring their pets. Because Red Cross shelters do not allow animals, many pet owners have limited options when disasters force them from their homes.

Forsyth also commended the governor for signing into law three additional bills that protect animals:

• SB 1578 makes it unlawful to chain a dog to a fixed object, such as a house, fence or tree, for longer than three hours. SB 1578 was introduced by Senator Alan Lowenthanl (D-Long  Beach ) and sponsored by the California Animal Association, of which UAN is a founding member.
• SB 1806 prohibits citizens from leaving an animal in an unattended vehicle in the heat, cold or other circumstances that endanger the animal’s health.
• SB 1349 allows the imposition of felony penalties for the second or subsequent violation of California ’s animal fighting statute.

“It is clear that Governor Schwarzenegger takes seriously our responsibility to treat animals humanely and to enact laws that protect their welfare,” Forsyth said.

Now celebrating its 20th year, United Animal Nations is North America ’s leading provider of emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services and a key advocate for the critical needs of animals.

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