Family Pets Need Access to Emergency Evacuation Shelters

This petition, supported by the undersigned, is directed to the American Red Cross and similar emergency response organizations. Its goal is to have authorities reverse their current rules on not allowing family pets to accompany them into public shelters. This information is sited at the following source on the FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov/kids/evacuat.htm

"Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is not the best action. BUT, pets cannot go with you to a Red Cross emergency shelter (unless they are service animals, like dogs for the visually impaired.)" as of 1/14/08.

The "nuclear family" has changed since the Red Cross was founded in 1881. These days a family does not only consist of human beings, but many include beloved pets. The current disaster planning and emergency procedures for many states DO NOT have adequate provisions for family pets. Having to separate a member of the family during an emergency evacuation should never be an option. Leaving behind a family member due to a lack of space in an animal shelter or denial of admission to a public shelter is also not acceptable.

In today's compassionate world where people are being prosecuted and convicted for cruelty to animals, there is no reason why appropriate accommodations cannot be made for them during a crisis. The public should not be left to fend for themselves looking for hotels, kennels, or other places that are willing to accept pets.

We recommend the American Red Cross and similar emergency response organizations reach out to state and local government offices to get a better view of how many pets are registered in their respective districts. Non-government agencies such as local veterinarians, nationwide pet supply chains such as Petco and PetSmart would also be able to shed some light on the pet ownership density in their areas. Online resource such as LittleMeNot (http://www.LittleMeNot.com/) also register family pets and could provide pet population information.

With this information the American Red Cross can allocate resources more appropriately to handle and provide shelter for both humans and their pets. We believe in the good nature and spirit of the American Red Cross and that once you realize how many families in today's "nuclear family" owns pets, you will revise your current no pets policy for public evacuation shelters.

You can make changes to your current no pet policy in the following ways:
* Setup separate shelters just for pets and give families the option to stay with their pet at that shelter.
* Designate certain shelters for families with pets.
* Have separate areas within shelters just for pets, so that people who do not want to be with pets have their own space.

AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION IN REVISING YOUR CURRENT POLICY ON NO PETS ALLOWED IN PUBLIC SHELTERS. Animals have a special place in many of our hearts and we should all strive to speak on their behalf for them to have a place that is safe and accommodating in the unfortunate event there is a disaster requiring evacuation or other emergency assistance.

Thank You.

Please feel free to write or contact the following organizations to have your voices heard.

American Red Cross National Headquarters
2025 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (703) 206 6000

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
424 E. 92nd St
New York, NY 10128-6804

Heather Case, DVM, MPH
Assistant Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response
1931 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173
847-925-8070 ext. 6632

United Animal Nations
PO Box 188890
Sacramento, CA 95818