THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SOLOBAY, PILEGGI, BLAKE, BROWNE, DINNIMAN, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FONTANA, GREENLEAF, MENSCH, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, WARD, WASHINGTON, WAUGH AND M. WHITE, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of September 19, 2011, as "Animal Disaster

Preparedness Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, All families are at risk of either natural or

manmade disasters at any time; and

WHEREAS, Families across this Commonwealth face possible

evacuation and displacement due to natural and manmade

disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires,

nuclear incidents and chemical spills; and

WHEREAS, More than 72% of American households have companion

animals; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the fifth largest agricultural state

in the nation and is home to more than 3,000,000 livestock

animals and more than 38,000,000 poultry; and

WHEREAS, Despite the high priority animals have in our daily

lives and livelihoods, many animals are injured or killed during

disasters simply because they were overlooked during the

disaster planning process that each family and community

undertakes; and 

WHEREAS, When disasters or emergencies strike in this

Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team,

through its network of volunteer County Animal Response Teams,

may be activated by government emergency management agencies to

work with local shelters and rescues and with national animal,

veterinary and disaster organizations to rescue and care for

animals; and

WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States acknowledged the

importance of the human-animal bond and animal disaster

preparedness planning by passing into law the Pets Evacuation

and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-308,

120 Stat. 1725); and

WHEREAS, The Senate echoes the concern of Congress and,

additionally, recognizes the importance of disaster preparedness

for all animals, including companion, livestock and poultry

species; and

WHEREAS, The Senate calls upon all citizens of this

Commonwealth to take necessary actions to ensure that all

animals in their care are properly accounted for in disaster

planning; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of September 19

through 25, 2011, as "Animal Disaster Preparedness Week" in

dedication to the animals left behind in one of this country's

largest natural disasters, Hurricane Katrina.