Invitation TO GET INVOLVED - 3/31/06
SB 607 Pet Evacuation Bill .pdf
People & Pets March to the State Capitol Steps
UPDATE: 4/19/06 - PET EVACUATION BILL (La. SB 607)
UPDATE: 4/27/06 - PET EVACUATION BILL (La. SB 607)
UPDATE: 6/09/06 - PET EVACUATION BILL (La. SB 607)
UPDATE: 6/12/06 - PET EVACUATION BILL (La. SB 607)
Governor Blanco Signs Senate Bill 607

Pet Evacuation Bill PASSED the House on June 15th, 2006!

Dear Friends,

After 7 hard months of work, the payoff is well worth the wait…SB 607, dubbed the “Pet Evacuation bill,” has passed the Senate and House (and all the committees in between) and heads to the Governor for signature.

Thank YOU for supporting this bill and for writing letters/emails and making phone calls. Your grassroots advocacy is a powerful tool and it absolutely made the difference!! The Governor and legislators knew that public sentiment was strong, which is why the bill succeeded. The bill not only saves animal lives, but also their people.

This bill wouldn’t have happened at all if it wasn’t for Senator “Clo” Fontenot and his aide Cathy Wells (BIG WOOF) who led the cause and recognized the importance of including pets in emergency preparedness plans. Fontenot authored a benchmark bill that will serve as model legislation for the rest of the country.

There are many other wonderful people to thank who worked tireless hours ensuring the bill’s success. As you will discover from the list below, above-and-beyond teamwork was instrumental in the bill’s victory.
 

	Stacy Wolf, the Senior Director of Legislative Services & Anti-Cruelty Training for the ASPCA, was an unwavering soldier whose legislative prowess turned hours of early morning and late night discussions into language that was comprehensive and practical for all those involved. Her ability to see past obstacles was inspirational. Stacy normally spends her time on New York animal legislative efforts; we are deeply grateful that she lent her time and talent to us in Louisiana.
	Charlie Smith for lobbying the bill with key legislators and administrative stakeholders in the Governor’s office. His love of animals, legislative know-how, and willingness to talk day or night to make this bill work was crucial to its success.
	Senator Robert Adley and his wife Claudia who worked behind-the-scenes to promote the bill and protect its major provisions (they have three adopted dogs rescued during Katrina).
	Senator Walter Boasso who used his personal experiences in rescue work after Katrina to explain how important pets are to people.
	Representative Jack Smith who used his political skills to steer the bill to House passage by suspending rules and making it Special Order for Thursday to avoid the logjam of the last days of the Session to ensure passage.
	House Speaker Joe Salter who supported the effort and agreed with Representative Smith that the bill needed to be given special treatment.
	New Orleanians like Philip Manual and others who testified before Committee the importance of allowing pets onto busses and including them in planning for disasters.
	Senators Cravins, Dardenne, N. Gautreaux, Hollis, Quinn and Representatives Hebert, Richmond, Jack Smith and Triche for sponsoring the bill with Senator Fontenot.
	Shannon Moore who garnered early publicity for the pet evacuation issue by hosting a pet rally on the steps of the Capital. Her tragic death saddened animal lovers everywhere.
	All the legislators who believed in the bill’s merits.
	The media who increased awareness of the pet issues in disasters.
	Special thanks to the incredible LA/SPCA staff whose patience and understanding was extraordinary. I spent more time in Baton Rouge than ever before working on this bill and other critical disaster issues.

If companion animals everywhere could thank you personally, I’m sure you’d be receiving thousands of licks and would fall on the floor in laughter. Thanks again for your great work and support!!

Laura



Laura Maloney
Executive Director
Louisiana SPCA
1700 Mardi Gras Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70114
www.la-spca.org
504-368-5191 ext 200