[Nfb-krafters-korner] pets

Sat Sep 9 19:43:52 UTC 2017

You can read more about the actual state by state laws here:
http://www.ajc.com/news/national/hurricane-irma-pet-owners-have-rights-durin
g-evacuation-shelter-during-storms/oHnsAad1A8izOPLFsSH6RN/

Dixie
@-> + <-@

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Terry Powers via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Saturday, September 9, 2017 2:50 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists' <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Terry Powers <terrypowers59 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] pets

Are Hotels Required to Accept Pets During Natural Disasters?

Popular Facebook posts falsely assert that FEMA or the 2006 PETS law require
hotels and motels to accommodate pets during an emergency.

CLAIM

The federal government, either through the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) or the 2006 PETS law allows pet owners to bring their pets to
any hotel or motel during weather-related evacuations. 

RATING

MOSTLY FALSE 

WHAT'S TRUE 

Irrespective of the weather, service animals are excluded from hotel and
motel "pet policies" under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

WHAT'S FALSE 

Neither the Federal Emergency Management Agency nor federal law require
hotels and motels to accept pets during hurricane evacuations or other
disasters.

ORIGIN

In late August and early September 2017, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma prompted
social media claims that the federal government, either through a 2006 law
or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mandated that pets be
allowed to accompany disaster evacuees into hotels and motels. A typical
claim read:

FLORIDA FRIENDS WITH PETS:

ATTENTION: If you are evacuating to a hotel/motel and they say they DON'T
accept pets, don't get ugly, but simply tell them that is against the law &
FEMA established that after Hurricane Katrina!

The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) was a
bi-partisan initiative in the United States House of Representatives to
require states seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance
to accommodate pets and service animals in their plans for evacuating
residents facing disasters.

DONT SHARE, COPY AND PASTE SO MORE PEOPLE READ THIS!"

The 2006 Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006
essentially mandates that FEMA take into account the needs of pet owners
when developing disaster preparedness plans. It also authorizes the director
of the agency to fund emergency shelter facilities for pets. It makes no
mention of hotels or motels. The summary on Congress.gov reads: 

Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 - Amends the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that
state and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs
of individuals with household pets and service animals prior to, during, and
following a major disaster or emergency.

Authorizes the Director to: (1) study and develop plans that take into
account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals prior to,
during, and following a major disaster or emergency; and (2) make financial
contributions, on the basis of programs or projects approved by the
Director, to the states and local authorities for animal emergency
preparedness purposes, including the procurement, construction, leasing, or
renovating of emergency shelter facilities and materials that will
accommodate people with pets and service animals.

Authorizes federal agencies to provide, as assistance essential to meeting
threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster, rescue, care,
shelter, and essential needs to individuals with household pets and service
animals and to such pets and animals.

In preparation for Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, FEMA advised pet owners to
"locate several 'pet-friendly' hotels." It made no mention of a requirement
for hotels to accommodate pets: 

Planning for animal evacuation:

.If you must leave your residence, have a plan for your family pets;

.Go online and locate several "pet-friendly" hotels in and out of your area;

.Identify friends or relatives outside your area where you and your pets can
stay;

.If there is a disaster pending, evacuate early with your pets, working
animals and livestock; don't wait for a mandatory evacuation order; and

.Animals should have leg bands or tattoos, microchips or identification tags
with their name as well as your address and phone number.

FEMA's other guides for pet owners, also make no mention of the purported
requirement. 

As of press time, FEMA's "Rumor Control" page, makes no mention of the
rumor.  We reached out to the agency for comment, but have not yet received
a response. 

However, disabled people who use service animals do have the law on their
side when they check in to a hotel. The Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) makes service animals legally exempt from any hotel "pet policies" 

Bottom line: there is no law that requires hotels to accommodate household
pets during a natural disaster. Pet owners should plan accordingly.

I received this imfo from another list.

The source is a guide dog user and is up on imfo like this.

Terry Powers

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