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WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - On the first day of the hurricane season, two high-level U.S. officials said on Thursday pet care must be part of disaster preparations or animal-loving Americans will ignore evacuation orders and stay home with their pets.
"People are not going to leave," said George Foresman, undersecretary for preparedness at the Homeland Security Department, unless they can take their pets with them or be certain of their care.
Some 60 percent of U.S. households have pets -- 358 million animals in all, according to the Humane Society of the United States. In one poll, half of pet owners said they would refuse to evacuate without their pets, said Ron DeHaven, head of the Agriculture Department agency in charge of animal welfare.
Foresman and DeHaven discussed Americans' attachment to pets at an "Animals in Disaster" conference sponsored by the Humane Society. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita stranded thousands of pets as part of vast damage to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005.
"Animals are an important part of lives every day," Foresman said in urging pet owners to plan how to take their animals with them if disaster strikes. Government also has to take pets into account, said DeHaven.
"Clearly, emergency efforts have to address care of companion animals," said DeHaven. While USDA has no jurisdiction over pets, DeHaven suggested pet shelters should be opened when a crisis develops and be located near shelters for people.
USDA was drafting a regulation that would require commercial animal breeders and dealers, animal exhibitors, and research facilities to have formal plans for care of their animals during emergencies, he said.
Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society, said it was important to realize people are unwilling to abandon their pets, so accommodations must be made.
"It's unthinkable for most people," said Pacelle. "You can't just rescue people."
Good to know people have their priorities set straight in an emergency. I guess though, its easier to jump on the bandwagon and pass the blame onto others rather than many of the idiots where it belongs.
What a waste of tax dollars in an already bloated FEMA program.
WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - On the first day of the hurricane season, two high-level U.S. officials said on Thursday pet care must be part of disaster preparations or animal-loving Americans will ignore evacuation orders and stay home with their pets.
"People are not going to leave," said George Foresman, undersecretary for preparedness at the Homeland Security Department, unless they can take their pets with them or be certain of their care.
Some 60 percent of U.S. households have pets -- 358 million animals in all, according to the Humane Society of the United States. In one poll, half of pet owners said they would refuse to evacuate without their pets, said Ron DeHaven, head of the Agriculture Department agency in charge of animal welfare.
Foresman and DeHaven discussed Americans' attachment to pets at an "Animals in Disaster" conference sponsored by the Humane Society. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita stranded thousands of pets as part of vast damage to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005.
"Animals are an important part of lives every day," Foresman said in urging pet owners to plan how to take their animals with them if disaster strikes. Government also has to take pets into account, said DeHaven.
"Clearly, emergency efforts have to address care of companion animals," said DeHaven. While USDA has no jurisdiction over pets, DeHaven suggested pet shelters should be opened when a crisis develops and be located near shelters for people.
USDA was drafting a regulation that would require commercial animal breeders and dealers, animal exhibitors, and research facilities to have formal plans for care of their animals during emergencies, he said.
Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society, said it was important to realize people are unwilling to abandon their pets, so accommodations must be made.
"It's unthinkable for most people," said Pacelle. "You can't just rescue people."
Good to know people have their priorities set straight in an emergency. I guess though, its easier to jump on the bandwagon and pass the blame onto others rather than many of the idiots where it belongs.
What a waste of tax dollars in an already bloated FEMA program.
