FEMA finally to help animals in disasters

When it's raining cats and dogs, cats, dogs and other animals will be included in disaster planning, thanks to the passage of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) act. The law gives the Federal Emergency Management Agency the authority to work with states to develop emergency and evacuation plans that take pets and service animals into account.

This is in response to the plight of potential evacuees during Hurricane Katrina who refused to leave animals behind when rescuers told them they couldn't take along their pets. And for those who stayed, there was no place for animals at Red Cross shelters. The AVMA hopes future legislation will include planning for the welfare of all types of animals, not just pets, in the event of an emergency.