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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 the department of public

safety report to the appropriate legislative interim committee

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by October 15, 2006 on the guidelines it has issued and how

those guidelines are being implemented by local governments;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of public safety.