Subject: LA RESIDENTS: Pet Evacuation Bill Needs Your Voice From: Kinship Circle Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 00:08:38 -0600 To: "11. LA RESIDENTS - KC Hurricane Rescue Alerts"

LOUISIANA RESIDENTS:
This is it folks...getting down to the wire on SB-607, The Pet Evacuation Bill. Thanks to caring activists everywhere, Louisiana Senators have been inundated with phone calls, emails and faxes. They’ve heard our urgent request to include animals in emergency disaster response plans.

But the Louisiana citizen who works with Senator Fontenot and drafted SB-607 is worried about the lack of emails and letters from Louisiana residents.

This bill MUST pass, for animals in disasters. For animals, period.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary "B" will meet at 1:00 P.M. (NOT 9 AM) on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 in the John J. Hainkel, Jr. Room which is located on the basement level of the state capitol. This room is located on the west side of the capitol and must be accessed thru the ground level senate committee hall.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or you may contact the Judiciary "B" committee secretary, Danielle Doiron at 225-342-1773.

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Please note the following time and location change of the Senate Committee Meeting!!
1. ATTEND THE HEARING, APRIL 18, 2006, AT THE STATE CAPITOL:
Senate Judiciary B Committee will hear SB 607, The Pet Evacuation Bill, on
Tuesday, April 18, 2006.

WHERE:
The Louisiana State Capitol
900 North 3rd Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Senate Committee Room "E" located on the ground floor of the Capitol

WHEN:
1:00 p.m.

WHY YOUR PRESENCE IS NEEDED:
You may sign in at the hearing and testify about your experiences.
Or you may sign in to support SB 607 and not speak.
We must fill that room with people.
  
DIRECTIONS:  
From New Orleans:
Take I-10 West and merge onto 1-10 North so that you do NOT go over the river bridge.
Exit at Capitol Access Road.
Go back over the Interstate.
The first building is the Department of Transportation.
Then a red light.
The Governor's Mansion is on the right.
The road splits with a park in the middle.
To the right there is parking along the lake.  
At the next split:
If you go left you will be at the Capitol Steps.
If you go right there will be some reserved parking spaces and some available.
Proceed through the yellow caution light and there is a huge Public Parking Lot.
Also, any Security Guard can direct you to available parking
  
For the meeting you do not need to dress up, but please no hats and wear
your animal/rescue t-shirts if you have one.
  
Thank You,
Shannon Moore,


2. EMAIL/PHONE/FAX ALL LOUISIANA STATE SENATORS.
PASS THIS ALERT ALONG TO EVERY LA RESIDENT YOU KNOW.
Kinship Circle’s original sample letter, with contact information for all
Louisiana Senators, is below. When a House version of this bill is
introduced, we will send a new alert to contact Louisiana Representatives.

IF YOU ONLY HAVE TIME TO CONTACT 1 SENATOR, SEND COMMENTS TO:
Senator Fontenot: fontenoc@legis.state.la.us
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 94183; Baton Rouge, LA 70804
ph: 225-342-2040
District Office
P.O. Box 1238; Livingston, LA 70754
ph: 225-686-0108; fax: 225-686-2161

PLEASE TRY TO PERSONALIZE YOUR COMMENTS, only using Kinship Circle’s sample letter for ideas.
Mainly, state: “This is what I experienced...” and “please support SB 607, The Pet Evacuation Bill.”

Always include your full name, address, phone number and email address.
  

PLEASE SEND COMMENTS ASAP. The Senate Judiciary B Committee may hear SB 607,
The Pet Evacuation Bill, on Tuesday, April 18. Take action now--whether you
live in Louisiana or not--to ensure animals are not left behind in a disaster.

3/29/06--Critical State Pet Evacuation Bill
KINSHIP CIRCLE ACTION CAMPAIGN
http://www.kinshipcircle.org

SOURCE OF INFORMATION
Shannon Moore,

SENATE BILL NO. 607 BY SENATOR FONTENOT
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=375498

Bill Maps a Pet Evacuation Route
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-pets26mar26,1,7592180.story

EVERYONE:
You may email ALL LOUISIANA STATE SENATORS by copying the email block below
into the Bcc (blind copy) line of your email. Enter your own email address
in the To line and hit Send.  

ACTIVISTS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES:
To ensure your comments are not blocked, please send your email to someone
in the U.S.A. to forward on your behalf.

LOUISIANA RESIDENTS:
In addition to writing all Louisiana Senators, please ask your elected
Senators who represent the district you live in to support SB 607, The Pet
Evacuation Bill.

TO SEND LETTERS BY FAX OR POSTAL MAIL:
Please see complete contact information for every LA State Senator,
following sample letter.

==============================================================
SAMPLE LETTER & EMAIL BLOCK
*Personalizing your comments adds impact
FULL CONTACT INFO (street addresses, fax/phone) follows sample letter
==============================================================

adleyr@legis.state.la.us, amedeej@legis.state.la.us,
websen@legis.state.la.us, barhamr@legis.state.la.us,
boassow@legis.state.la.us, lasen15@legis.state.la.us,
cainj@legis.state.la.us, websen@legis.state.la.us,
smithcheek@legis.state.la.us, websen@legis.state.la.us,
dardennej@legis.state.la.us, websen@legis.state.la.us,
lasen20@legis.state.la.us, ellingtn@legis.state.la.us,
fieldsc@legis.state.la.us, fontenoc@legis.state.la.us,
gautreauxn@legis.state.la.us, lasen21@legis.state.la.us,
heitmeierf@legis.state.la.us, hinesd@legis.state.la.us,
hollisk@legis.state.la.us, jacksonl@legis.state.la.us,
websen@legis.state.la.us, kostelka@legis.state.la.us,
lentini@legis.state.la.us, malonem@legis.state.la.us,
lasen17@legis.state.la.us, lasen29@legis.state.la.us,
lasen23@legis.state.la.us, lasen27@legis.state.la.us,
murraye@legis.state.la.us, websen@legis.state.la.us,
quinnj@legis.state.la.us, romeroc@legis.state.la.us,
schedlet@legis.state.la.us, websen@legis.state.la.us,
smithmi@legis.state.la.us, theunisg@legis.state.la.us,
websen@legis.state.la.us">

Dear Senator,

In a single week last September, rescuers airlifted thousands of New Orleans
residents stranded in flooded homes. Among them, Denise Okojo clung to her
Labrador retriever in the shadows of their swamped apartment. When a rescue
team arrived, Okojo was ordered to leave Molly, her seeing-eye service dog,
behind. The blind woman said goodbye to her "eyes" and sole companion.

Laura K. Maloney, executive director of the Louisiana Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, claims animal protection volunteers
recovered about 16,000 animals in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Most ended
up in shelters around the U.S. Only 3,000 were reunited with their
guardians. Okojo was one of the fortunate evacuees. At Lake Charles Memorial
Hospital, she relayed her story to a kindhearted nurse who alerted ASPCA
disaster relief workers. After smashing through a window, a rescue squad
found Molly trembling in an upstairs bedroom.

A disaster preparedness plan without provisions for animals is a bad plan.
In America, animals live in over half of all households. Cats inhabit 3 of
every 10 homes, according to Humane Society of the U.S. figures. In New
Orleans alone, 50,000 to 70,000 dogs were pre-Katrina family members.

Yet Louisiana disaster victims were forced to choose between survival and
their pets. Unforgivable images are etched into our nation's conscience: A
white dog is ripped from a boy's arms as he boards a bus. A bewildered
yellow Lab watches his family disappear in a helicopter. An elderly woman
cannot receive medical care unless she deserts her cats. A man swims and
walks for miles with his dog, only to learn he must abandon his loyal
friend.

An emergency plan with no animal component is out of touch with
constituents. In fact, Katrina "stragglers" cited pets as the foremost
reason for staying in flooded areas. The human death toll might have been
lower if a strategy to accommodate animals had been in place.

You have the opportunity to ensure this never happens again. I respectfully
ask for your full support of Senator Fontenot's Senate Bill No. 607 (SB-607)
Pet Evacuation Bill. SB-607 requires state and parish homeland security and
emergency preparedness agencies "to consult with experts in the fields of
animal sheltering, veterinary medicine, public health and safety, and other
professional and technical personnel deemed appropriate to formulate
emergency operation plans for the humane evacuation, transport, and
temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets in times of
emergency or disaster."

"I felt we were derelict in our duties to the citizens of Louisiana, because
we didn't make arrangements for pets," Senator Fontenot told reporters. "I
don't think we recognize that pet-human bond that was there, and a lot of
people refused to evacuate because they weren't going to leave their pets
behind."

Long after the last humans had evacuated, thousands of emaciated and
dehydrated pets roamed empty New Orleans parishes. Seven months beyond the
storm, animal advocates continue to rescue and rehabilitate displaced pets.
Please stand behind SB-607, which instructs government to consult with
animal welfare organizations to fully implement protocols on rescue/shelter
of animals during a disaster. I am counting on you to cosponsor the critical
Pet Evacuation Bill.

Thank you,

===========================================
COMPLETE CONTACT INFORMATION
http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Senators/Default.asp
===========================================

CENTRAL FAX NUMBER, when the Legislature is in session. Faxes are placed
directly into each senator's mailbox: 225-342-0617

CENTRAL PHONE NUMBER, when the Legislature is in session: 225-342-2040

LOUSIANA STATE SENATE MEMBERS: 
     
Senator Robert Adley
611 Jessie Jones Drive; Benton, LA 71006
ph: 225-342-2040, 318-965-1755; fax: 318-965-1757
adleyr@legis.state.la.us

Senator "Jody" Amedee
2109 S. Burnside Ave., Suite A; Gonzales, LA 70737
ph: 225-644-1526; fax: 225-644-7392
amedeej@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Diana E. Bajoie
Post Office Box 15168; New Orleans, LA 70175
ph: 225-342-0752, 504-568-7760; fax: 504-896-1301
websen@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Robert J. Barham
Post Office Box 249; Oak Ridge, LA 71264
ph: 225-342-2040, 318-244-5582; fax: 318-244-5015
barhamr@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Walter J. Boasso
100 Intermodal Drive; Chalmette, LA 70043
ph: 225-342-2040, 504-270-9258; fax: 504-277-0113
boassow@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Sharon Weston Broome
P. O. Box 52783; Baton Rouge, LA 70892  
ph: 225-359-9352; fax: 225-359-9353
lasen15@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator James David Cain
Post Office Box 640; Dry Creek, LA 70637
ph: 225-342-2040, 337-328-7266; fax: 337-491-2027
cainj@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Joel T. Chaisson
P.O. Box 1255; Destrehan, LA 70047
ph: 225-342-2040, 985-764-9911; fax: 985-764-9686
websen@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Sherri Smith Cheek
9973 Mansfield Road; Keithville, LA 71047
ph: 318-687-4820; fax: 318-687-4077
smithcheek@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Donald R. "Don" Cravins
Vice Chairman, Judiciary B Committee
200 West Pine Street; Lafayette, LA 70501
ph: 225-342-2114, 337-234-9695; fax: 337-234-7019
websen@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Jay Dardenne, Judiciary B Committee Member
Post Office Box 94183; Baton Rouge, LA 70804
ph: 225-342-9788; fax: 225-383-3733
dardennej@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Ann Duplessis
6600 Plaza Drive, Suite 211A; New Orleans, LA 70127
ph: 504-243-7795; fax: 504-246-7689
websen@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Reggie P. Dupre
P. O. Box 3893; Houma, LA 70361-2016
ph: 985-876-9902; fax: 985-873-2016
lasen20@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Noble E. Ellington, Judiciary B Committee Member
4272 Front Street; Winnsboro, LA 71295  
ph: 318-435-7313; fax: 318-435-9885
ellingtn@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Cleo Fields
Post Office Box 94183; Baton Rouge, LA 70804  
ph: 225-342-9793; fax: 225-219-4354
fieldsc@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Heulette "Clo" Fontenot
Author of SB 607, Pet Evacuation Bill
P.O. Box 1238; Livingston, LA 70754
ph: 225-686-0108; fax: 225-686-2161
fontenoc@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator "Nick" Gautreaux
209 E. St. Victor Street; Abbeville, LA 70510
ph: 337-740-NICK (6425), 1-866-740-NICK (6425)
fax: 337-740-6400;
gautreauxn@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator D. A. "Butch" Gautreaux
1103 Eighth Street; Morgan City, LA 70380  
ph: 800-562-3204; fax: 985-380-2447
lasen21@legis.state.la.us>

Senator Francis C. Heitmeier
3709 General DeGaulle; New Orleans, LA 70114
ph: 504-361-6014; fax: 504-361-9794
heitmeierf@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Donald E. Hines
Post Office Box 262; Bunkie, LA 71322
ph: 318-346-4619; fax: 318-346-2301
hinesd@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Ken Hollis, Judiciary B Committee Member
2800 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Suite 365; Metairie, LA 70002
ph: 225-342-8325, 504-828-9300; fax: 504-828-9355
hollisk@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Lydia P. Jackson
610 Texas Street, Suite 201; Shreveport, LA 71101
ph: 318-676-7029; fax: 318-676-7034
jacksonl@legis.state.la.us

Senator Charles D. "C.D." Jones, Judiciary B Committee Member
141 Desiard Street, Suite 315; Monroe, LA 71201
ph: 225-342-2366, 318-362-5469;
fax: 318-325-2647;
websen@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka
Post Office Box 2122; Monroe, LA 71207
ph: 800-508-5572; fax: 318-329-9150
kostelka@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Arthur J. "Art" Lentini
6620 Riverside Drive, Suite 312; Metairie, LA 70003
ph: 504-780-8700; fax: 504-465-3463
lentini@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Max T. Malone
610 Marshall Street, Suite 722; Shreveport, LA 71101
ph: 318-676-5733; fax: 318-676-5734
malonem@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Robert "Rob" Marionneaux
Chairman, Judiciary B Committee
P.O. Box 577; Livonia, LA 70755-0577
ph: 225-637-3623; fax: 225-637-3124
lasen17@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Joe McPherson
880 Robinson Bridge Road; Woodworth, LA 71485
ph: 318-484-2211; fax: 318-445-2872
lasen29@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Michael J. "Mike" Michot
P.O. Box 80372; Lafayette, LA 70598  
ph: 337-262-1332; fax: 337-237-1185
lasen23@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Willie L. Mount
P.O. Box 3004; Lake Charles, LA 70602  
ph: 337-491-2016; fax: 337-433-8080
lasen27@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Edwin R. Murray
1540 N. Broad St.; New Orleans, LA 70119
ph: 504-945-0042; fax: 504-942-5968
murraye@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Ben Nevers
724 Avenue F; Bogalusa, LA 70427
ph: 985-732-6863, 1-800-881-2749; fax: 985-732-6860
websen@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Julie Quinn
3330 North Causeway Boulevard, Suite 438; Metairie, LA 70002
ph: 504-219-4640; fax: 504-219-4639  
quinnj@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Craig F. Romero
300 Iberia Street, Suite B-150; New Iberia, LA 70560
ph: 337-364-8006; fax: 337-364-7355
romeroc@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator John T. "Tom" Schedler
3840 Highway 22, Suite 200; Mandeville, LA 70471
ph: 225-342-2040, 985-727-7949, 1-800-836-9581
fax: 985-727-9904;
schedlet@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Derrick Shepherd
2009 Ames Boulevard; Marrero, LA 70072
ph: 504-371-0263; fax: 504-371-0265
websen@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Kenneth M. "Mike" Smith
Post Office Box 1381; Winnfield, LA 71483
ph: 225-342-0637, 318-628-3075; fax: 318-628-5286
smithmi@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator Gerald J. Theunissen
Post Office Box 287; Jennings, LA 70546
ph: 337-824-0376; fax: 337-824-4780
theunisg@legis.state.la.us
  
Senator J. Chris Ullo
2150 Westbank Expressway, Suite 705; Harvey, LA 70058
ph: 504-361-6690; fax: 504-361-6691
websen@legis.state.la.us