A Look at the PETS Act and Related Florida Law in the Wake of Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian hit Florida’s Gulf Coast on September 28, 2022, causing a lot of damage. Many homes were flooded and millions of people lost power. Lots of people in Florida have pets, and it can be hard to evacuate with them during a hurricane. During Hurricane Katrina, many people didn’t evacuate because they didn’t want to leave their pets behind. As a result, many pets were stranded or died. Because of this, laws have been changed to protect pets and their owners during hurricanes. The PETS Act was passed in 2006 and requires states to include plans for pets and service animals in their emergency preparedness plans in order to receive federal funding. FEMA and non-profit organizations help to implement the act, and Florida has revised its disaster relief plans to include pets. In 2018, a new law was passed requiring shelters to make efforts to reunite lost pets with their owners before taking other actions. This is important, especially after recent hurricanes in Florida. The current laws to protect animals during emergencies don’t cover enough types of animals, like horses and farm animals. In Florida, there are a lot of horses and cows, and the agriculture industry is worth a lot of money. When Hurricane Ian hit, many farmers lost a lot of animals, which cost them a lot of money. It’s important to protect all types of animals, not just pets, because they’re important for Florida’s economy. These laws have a big problem because they only allow pet-friendly shelters to be set up and resources to be used after a state of emergency is declared. This can be too late to help many animals in a disaster. There are also other issues, like needing proof of non-profit status, that slow down the process of getting help. It will probably take a big push or another disaster before laws protect more animals, but progress is slowly being made in animal laws for natural disasters. The Florida State Agricultural Response Team (SART) is a group that helps with animal and agriculture emergencies in Florida. They work with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) during disasters to rescue and treat animals. SART was activated for Hurricane Ian in September 2022 and helped rescue hundreds of animals. They can be activated before a disaster hits, which is different from other laws and programs in place. Other businesses and non-profits also stepped in to help animals during the storm, providing shelter and rescuing animals in need. During hurricanes and other disasters, it’s important to prepare your pets. Small pets should be microchipped and have emergency kits, while larger animals like horses need vaccinations and safe shelter. Research the best procedures for your pet and find animal-friendly shelters in your area. Laws are being proposed to protect pets during storms, such as one that would prohibit tying them up outside. It’s important to continue working on laws to protect animals during disasters.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/a-look-at-the-pets-act-and-related-florida-law-in-the-wake-of-hurricane-ian/