Victory for America's Pets (and their People)The U.S. Senate unanimously approved its version of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards(PET)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version in May by an overwhelming vote. Congress has taken an important step in ensuring that Americans will never again be forced to leave their pets behind when disaster strikes, as happened during Hurricane Katrina.

The bill passed by the House calls for emergency preparedness plans to include consideration of people with pets and service animals before a disaster strikes. The Senate bill contains additional and strengthening provisions. The Senate version is more comprehensive. We are approaching the one-year mark of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and hurricane season is upon us again. Final passage of the PETS Act should be a priority when Congress returns from recess in September.

Victory for Hunted Exotics (and Taxpayers)

For years, big game trophy hunters have been sticking American taxpayers with the bill for their hunting vacations. A two-year investigation by The HSUS revealed that some trophy hunters are shooting rare animals around the world and donating their mounted prizes to phony museums so that they can take a tax deduction.

A comprehensive pensions bill passed last week by the House and last night by the Senate contains provisions that tighten the laws on charitable giving and closes this trophy hunting tax scam loophole.

HumaneSociety@hsus.org 202-452-1100 http://www.hsus.org/