Emergency Preparedness: Support for Pets and Companion Animals
Also known as: PETSAFE Act of 2026
Legislative Progress
✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President
Key Points
This bill, introduced by Representative Mast, would help state and local governments buy the equipment they need to protect pets during natural disasters like hurricanes or wildfires.
It changes the rules so the federal government pays for 90% of the cost for pet-related emergency prep, up from the current 50%. This makes it much cheaper for local towns to build up their animal rescue resources.
Local governments could use this money to buy mobile animal trailers, collapsible crates, pet food, and veterinary medicine. It also covers the cost of training rescue teams and buying software to track animals during an emergency.
The goal is to make sure pet owners don't have to choose between their own safety and their animals. By having better shelters and rescue gear ready, more people are likely to evacuate safely when told to do so.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Feb 9, 2026House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced in House
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To amend the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to support emergency preparedness and response efforts for companion animals.
Bill NumberHR 7438
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.