Dear New York Advocates,
Amidst the chaos and stress of natural disasters, too often pet owners are forced to make a heart-wrenching choice between evacuating without their animals or putting themselves in danger by staying behind with their pets. We need to remove the barriers that prohibit people from safely evacuating with their pets—remaining in an evacuation area puts everyone in jeopardy, including emergency personnel who risk their own lives assisting people in disaster zones.
What’s more, in the aftermath of disasters, access to specialized emergency veterinary services can be limited, further risking pets’ safety.
Fortunately, the New York State Legislature is considering two important bills this year to better protect animals and their owners during emergencies:
Allow Pets on Public Transportation in Disasters
A.9519/S.7533 would allow pet owners to board any NY/NJ Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) public transportation service during a state of emergency. This bill will help solve the evacuation-related problems we witnessed firsthand during Superstorm Sandy.
Authorize Veterinary Response in Disasters and Cruelty Cases
A. 9786/S.7595 would allow trained, out-of-state veterinary professionals to respond to natural disasters or large-scale cruelty cases. Events like the recent cockfighting raid in the Hudson Valley have highlighted how difficult it is to mobilize enough qualified, local veterinarians to handle large-scale emergencies.
What You Can Do
Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center now
to contact your state senator and assemblymember and urge them to cosponsor and support these two critical bills.
With less than a month to go before the Legislature adjourns for the year, time is of the essence!
Thank you, New York!