1Designating the week of September 23 through 29, 2013, as
2"Animal Disaster Preparedness Week" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, All families are at risk of either natural or
4manmade disasters at any time; and

5WHEREAS, Families across this Commonwealth face possible
6evacuation and displacement due to natural and manmade
7disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires,
8nuclear incidents and chemical spills; and

9WHEREAS, More than 72% of American households have companion
10animals; and

11WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the fifth largest agricultural state
12in the nation and is home to more than 3,000,000 livestock
13animals and more than 38,000,000 poultry; and

14WHEREAS, Despite the high priority animals have in our daily
15lives and livelihoods, many animals are injured or killed during
16disasters simply because they were overlooked during the
17disaster planning process that each family and community

1undertakes; and

2WHEREAS, When disasters or emergencies strike in this
3Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team,
4through its network of volunteer County Animal Response Teams,
5may be activated by government emergency management agencies to
6work with local shelters and rescues and with national animal,
7veterinary and disaster organizations to rescue and care for
8animals; and

9WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States acknowledged the
10importance of the human-animal bond and animal disaster
11preparedness planning by passing into law the Pets Evacuation
12and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-308,
13120 Stat. 1725); and

14WHEREAS, The Senate echoes the concern of Congress and,
15additionally, recognizes the importance of disaster preparedness
16for all animals, including companion, livestock and poultry
17species; and

18WHEREAS, The Senate calls upon all citizens of this
19Commonwealth to take necessary actions to ensure that all
20animals in their care are properly accounted for in disaster
21planning; therefore be it

22RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of September 23
23through 29, 2013, as "Animal Disaster Preparedness Week" in
24dedication to the animals left behind in one of this country's
25largest natural disasters, Hurricane Katrina.