California Assembly member Rick Chavez Zbur drafted a new bill to help ensure pets are protected during emergencies and that local governments have clear procedures to assist with pets during evacuations. The FOUND Act (Friends of Oreo Uniting During Disasters) will:
Require cities and counties to update emergency plans to designate procedures for the rescue of pets that are in a mandatory evacuation zone
Help local governments provide clear online resources on pet evacuation and reunification assistance, including a list of pets that have been rescued
Extend the holding periods for rescued pets to at least 90 days before being adopted out, euthanized, or transferred, which is a significant improvement from the current 72-hour minimum
The inspiration for the FOUND Act came from a homeowner who was not home when the fire erupted. He was not allowed back in to get his two dogs, but a fire chief went in and found one of them. Five days later, the other dog, named Oreo, was found roaming around the remains of the family’s home.
