Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, provides that political subdivisions, as defined, have full power during a local emergency to provide mutual aid to any affected area in accordance with local ordinances, resolutions, emergency plans, or agreements. Existing law defines "emergency plan" for these purposes to mean official and approved documents that describe the principles and methods to be applied in carrying out emergency operations or rendering mutual aid during emergencies. Existing law requires that a county send a copy of its emergency plan to the Office of Emergency Services upon an update to the plan.
Existing law requires a city or county to make available to the public by posting on its internet website information for pet emergency preparedness, including, but not limited to, information for creating an evacuation plan and emergency checklist for pets consistent with recommendations publicly published by the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
This bill, upon the next update to a city or county's emergency plan, would require a city or county to update its emergency plan to designate procedures for certain persons or entities to be able to rescue a pet, as defined, from an area subject to an evacuation order that at the time of the evacuation the pet's owner believed to be alive. The bill would require that the procedures establish timelines or conditions in which rescues can occur as safely as possible. The bill, upon the next update to a city or county's emergency plan, would also require a city or county to update its emergency plan to designate a person or entity for a person with a residence in an area subject to an evacuation order to call if the person is in need of assistance with pets during and after an evacuation, as specified.
This bill would require a city or county to make available to the public by posting on its internet website contact information for the above-described persons or entities designated to assist persons with residences in an area subject to an evacuation order and resources for persons who need assistance reuniting with pets rescued from areas subject to evacuation orders.
This bill would prohibit a pet rescued or originating from an area subject to an evacuation order from being made available for adoption, euthanized, or transferred out of the custody of the local animal control agency for at least 30 days, except as specified. After the 30-day period has passed, the bill would prohibit the pet from being euthanized or transferred out of the custody of the local animal control agency or its partner animal shelters, animal rescues, or animal fosters unless all local rescue and foster partners have been notified and given an opportunity to take custody of the pet.
By imposing new duties on local government agencies, the bill would create a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Statutes affected:
AB 478: 50022.9 GOV
02/10/25 - Introduced: 50022.9 GOV
03/24/25 - Amended Assembly: 50022.9 GOV