Is It The Law In All Us States That During A Disaster That Motels Have To Allow Animals

Besides the tragic loss of human being lives, some of the most heartbreaking Hurricane Florence stories were those of pets that had been left behind to fend for themselves in the rising floodwaters. In one video that went viral, volunteers rescued 6 dogs locked within a backyard kennel just an 60 minutes or so before they all would have drowned.

After Hurricane Irma in Florida final twelvemonth, pet owners who left their animals chained with no way to escape were rightfully charged with felony animal cruelty. Hopefully the owners of these pets in Northward Carolina will face similar charges.

While chaining or locking upward dogs during a hurricane seems especially vicious, some pet owners may have had to abandon their pets because they were not immune in evacuation centers and hotels. You might think that after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005 and an estimated 250,000 dogs and cats were displaced or died — and in some cases, their owners who refused to leave them backside also died — all shelters and hotels would now be required past law to allow pets.

It'south true that the federal Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, enacted 1 year later on Katrina, does require state and local emergency preparedness operational plans to accost the needs of the owners of companion and service animals following a major disaster or emergency. Still, as I wrote for Care2 after Hurricane Harvey in Texas a yr ago, yous might be surprised that the PETS Act does non crave evacuation centers or hotels to accept pets during a disaster.

So, what exactly does the PETS Act require? Information technology requires state and local emergency preparedness operational plans to address the needs of the owners of companion and service animals post-obit a major disaster or emergency. While these plans exercise include "emergency shelter facilities and materials that will accommodate people with pets and service animals," all evacuation centers aren't required to let pets.

Fortunately, more and more evacuation centers are welcoming two-legged and iv-legged evacuees. Many hotels are willing to waive their no-pets policies to conform people who demand a identify for all of their family members to stay.

Simply knowing there's withal a real possibility that your pet will be turned away from a shelter during a disaster is a very important reason to have an emergency evacuation plan prepared so you don't go separated. Here are some tips from the ASPCA:

Observe out what hotels in your area will accept pets. Cheque your county's emergency management office, local brute shelter and your city's social media for the locations of evacuation centers that permit pets.
Set an emergency kit that includes a pet carrier (with your pet's name, your name and your cell phone number written on it), canned food, bowls, bottled water, first-aid items, garbage bags and blankets.
Be sure your pet is microchipped and your contact data is upward to date.
Your pet's ID tag should include their name, any urgent medical needs and your cell phone number.
Keep electric current photos of your pet with you.

Photo: Daily Mail/YouTube

Laura Goldman

I am a freelance author and lifelong dog lover. For 5 years, I was a staff author for i Love Dogs. When that site shut down, I started this blog...because I However Honey Dogs!

Source: https://istilllovedogs.com/2018/09/its-legal-for-us-evacuation-centers-and-hotels-to-ban-pets-during-a-disaster/

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