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Testimony supports bill to require local plans to identify shelters that can accommodate pets during disasters
Summary
Supporters — animal welfare organizations, veterinarians and emergency-management groups — told the Senate committee House Bill 1201 would increase evacuation compliance and reduce risk to first responders by requiring local emergency plans to identify shelters that can accommodate companion animals.
House Bill 1201 would require cities, towns and counties that prepare local comprehensive emergency management plans to address co‑sheltering of companion animals and to identify emergency shelters able to accommodate people with pets.
Committee staff said the bill directs jurisdictions to include companion-animal sheltering options in plan updates and requires certain companion-animal emergency preparedness information to be posted on local government websites. Commerce estimated modest implementation costs for cities and counties and identified the number of local plans that would be affected.
Representative Marie Levitt, the bill sponsor, told the committee that many residents decline to evacuate during wildfires, floods or other extreme events because they have no place for their pets. “The great thing about this bill is it doesn't require cities to erect new facilities,” Levitt said. “It does ask them to the extent possible to identify shelters for companion animals to go.”
Testimony in support included veterinarians and leaders from animal‑care organizations. Dr. Jen Stonequist, a veterinarian and executive director of programs and services at Kitsap Humane Society, said co‑sheltering reduces risks and helps families evacuate earlier. Sarah Hawk, executive director of Joint Animal Services and president of the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies, said the legislation “will help prevent the heartbreaking decision to stay behind, reduce risk for first responders, and improve community resilience.”
Other witnesses — including representatives of the ASPCA, Seattle Humane and local outreach veterinary programs — described operational experience rescuing and sheltering animals during past extreme weather and urged the committee to advance the bill.
No committee vote occurred at the hearing. A fiscal note and Commerce’s estimate of affected plans were available to members.
