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Committee advances bill requiring pet rescue procedures in local emergency plans
Summary
AB 478 would require cities and counties to include procedures for rescuing pets in mandatory evacuation zones when they next update emergency plans, provide online resources and extend reclaim periods for rescued animals; the committee advanced the bill to appropriations.
Assemblymember Zever presented AB 478, a bill that would require cities and counties, upon their next emergency plan update, to include procedures for rescuing pets in mandatory evacuation zones and to publish online resources on pet evacuation and reunification.
Zever told the committee the bill was inspired by examples from recent California fires, citing the case of a dog named Oreo that survived days in debris before being reunited with its owner. Mayor Lana Negrete of Santa Monica recounted difficulty obtaining authorization for trained rescuers to enter evacuated areas to retrieve animals and said the lack of preexisting procedures led to confusion and danger for residents and responders.
Nick Sackett of Social Compassion in Legislation, the bill’s sponsor, and representatives from the Animal Legal Defense Fund spoke in support, citing strong public attachment to pets and a Pew poll showing high numbers of Americans regard pets as family. The bill would also extend the time owners have to reclaim rescued pets before adoption, transfer or euthanasia; committee members requested the author consider operational concerns raised by animal control officials about shelter capacity and timing.
After discussion, the committee voted to advance AB 478 to the Committee on Appropriations.
