WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, today urged the Bush Administration to include pets and service animals in the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon.
According to a statement issued by the U.S. State Department on the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon, "Pets will not be allowed to travel."
"Refusing to allow pets and service animals onboard aircraft and boats leaving Lebanon will likely hamper the effort to safely evacuate American citizens," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO. "As we've seen in several natural disasters, a significant number of people refuse to leave their animals behind."
Pacelle pointed to a Zogby International poll that found that 49 percent of adults said they would not evacuate a dangerous situation if they couldn't take their pets with them.
The HSUS is contacting officials at The White House, State Department and Department of Defense to urge a reversal of the no-pets policy. Humane Society International, the international arm of The HSUS, will provide funding to a Lebanese animal protection organization, Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, as the responsibility for these abandoned animals will likely fall upon them.
"Once again the government is asking Americans to abandon their companion animals as part of the price of rescue," said Pacelle. "I urge President Bush, Secretary Rice and Secretary Rumsfeld to reverse this policy and make provisions to include household pets and service animals in the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon."
In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Representatives Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Chris Shays (R-CT) by a vote of 349 to 24 that would require that states include pets in disaster plans. Similar legislation introduced by Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) is pending in the U.S. Senate.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country.
