Possible messages

As a resident of California with pets, I am writing to express my strong support for A.B. 781 (Maienschein) and ask you to please sign this important bill when it comes across your desk. A.B. 781 will ensure that families with pets can safely seek shelter during natural disasters and extreme weather events throughout the golden state. As the rate of natural disasters and extreme weather events rapidly increases across California, the risks to public health and community safety rise with it. Sharing in this risk, but often overlooked, are residents’ pets, and the impact they have on Californian’s decisions during emergencies. Currently, a lack of public preparedness, unclear state guidance and low rate of pet-friendly emergency shelter facilities (co-shelters) where people can take and stay with their pets are enhancing the human risks associated with any emergency response. A national survey released in September 2021 found that while more than 90% of pet owners plan to bring their pet with them during an evacuation, only 16% have secured emergency pet-friendly housing, and only 46% had a preparedness plan in place. A 2023 survey of 1,000 Californians, including 250 primary Spanish-language speakers, found that 76% of residents who plan to utilize a public evacuation shelter plan to bring their pets with them. No Californian should have to make the heartbreaking decision of choosing between seeking shelter or staying with their beloved pet. Preparing for the inclusion of at least one designated co-shelter in every emergency operations plan, as in A.B. 781, will increase disaster preparedness among pet owners, enhance public safety, reduce evacuation noncompliance, enable pet owners to manage the care of their animals during the emergency, and mitigate separation-induced trauma and psychosomatic conditions. I once again ask that you please support A.B. 781, and when it comes across your desk, please sign it into law. Thank you for your time and consideration of my position.