HOUSE MEMORIAL 2

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Kathy A. McCoy

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR THE EVACUATION OF DOMESTIC PETS, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS, DURING DISASTERS.

     WHEREAS, the efforts to evacuate New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina brought to light the unwillingness of pet owners to abandon their pets; and

     WHEREAS, pet owners demonstrated that they were willing to risk their own lives to protect the lives of their pets; and

     WHEREAS, the inability of emergency shelters to accept pets was clearly a factor in pet owners not seeking safety during Hurricane Katrina; and

     WHEREAS, with advance planning, this issue can be addressed before evacuations are necessary;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of public safety be requested to develop guidelines that can be used by local governments for evacuation planning in order to ensure that New Mexicans are not placed at greater personal risk for their unwillingness to abandon their domestic pets; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public safety.

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