The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives unanimously passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (PETS). The PETS bill requires disaster relief and emergency management agencies to include provisions for the needs of households and individuals with pets. They are also required to provide animal service in their disaster relief plans for federal approval. The President is expected to sign the PETS bill.

The bill was created in response to the aftermath of hurricane Katrina where many pet owners refused to evacuate their homes and leave their pets behind because emergency relief agencies, transportation facilities and shelters were not equipped to accommodate animals.

A recent survey conducted by the American kennel Club (AKC) showed that 67% of pet owners would refuse future evacuation orders unless they were able to take their pets with them.

The AKC, which lobbied for the bill, said the legislation "will go a long way in assuring that the disastrous situation that occurred in 2005 is not repeated."