West's Annotated California Codes. Government Code. Title 2. Government of the State of California. Division 1. General. Chapter 7. California Emergency Services Act. Article 6.5. Accessibility to Emergency Information and Services.
§ 8593.10. Emergency shelters and cooling or warming centers able to accommodate persons with pets; update to emergency plan; posting of information on pet emergency preparedness on website
(a) For the purposes of this section, all of the following definitions apply:
(1) “Cooling center” means a facility established to mitigate the public health impacts of extreme heat.
(2) “Emergency shelter” means a temporary or provisional safe space that provides a basic shelter for people affected by disaster.
(3) “Pet” means a domesticated animal, such as a dog or cat, that is commonly kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes.
(4) “Warming center” means a facility established to mitigate the public health impacts of extreme cold.
(b)(1) Upon the next update of a city or county's emergency plan:
(A) A county shall update its emergency plan to designate emergency shelters able to accommodate persons with pets.
(B) A city that has previously adopted an emergency plan designating emergency shelters shall update its emergency plan to designate emergency shelters able to accommodate persons with pets.
(C) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency shelters, it shall designate at least one emergency shelter that can accommodate persons with pets.
(D) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency cooling centers, it shall, to the extent practicable, designate at least one cooling center that can accommodate persons with pets.
(E) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency warming centers, it shall, to the extent practicable, designate at least one warming center that can accommodate persons with pets.
(2) An emergency shelter designated as able to accommodate persons with pets shall be in compliance with both of the following:
(A) Safety procedures regarding the sheltering of pets referenced or established in the component of the state and local emergency plan.
(B) Applicable disaster assistance policies and procedures of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(c) Whenever a city or county provides public information regarding the availability of a cooling center or warming center, that information shall include whether the cooling or warming center can accommodate pets.
(d) A city or county shall make available to the public by posting on its internet website information for pet emergency preparedness, including, but not limited to:
(1) 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.
(2) Local organizations that may provide emergency pet assistance.
(3) Local emergency shelters, cooling centers, or warming centers, when active, that can accommodate persons with pets.
Credits
(Added by Stats.2023, c. 344 (A.B.781), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2024. Amended by Stats.2024, c. 14 (A.B.2232), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2025.)
Article 9.5. Disaster Preparedness.
§ 8588.5. Disaster search dog teams; training; recruitment; reimbursement
To promote an increase in the number of trained disaster search dog teams, the office shall do all of the following:
(a) Provide instruction to California disaster dog trainers in Swiss techniques.
(b) Work to secure authorization to conduct training for disaster search dog teams at existing facilities operated by the California National Guard and the Department of Transportation on the grounds of Camp San Luis Obispo.
(c) Engage in recruiting activities for the purpose of increasing the number of disaster search dog teams in southern California.
(d) Reimburse disaster search dog handlers and instructors for the costs of their travel and that of their dogs to training facilities within California.
Credits
(Added by Stats.1990, c. 894 (A.B.2840), § 2. Amended by Stats.2004, c. 193 (S.B.111), § 34; Stats.2010, c. 618 (A.B.2791), § 38; Stats.2013, c. 352 (A.B.1317), § 131, eff. Sept. 26, 2013, operative July 1, 2013.)
§ 8608. California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) program; incorporation into standardized emergency management system
The Office of Emergency Services shall approve and adopt, and incorporate the California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) program developed under the oversight of the Department of Food and Agriculture into the standardized emergency management system established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 8607.
Credits
(Added by Stats.2006, c. 604 (A.B.450), § 1. Amended by Stats.2010, c. 618 (A.B.2791), § 70; Gov.Reorg.Plan No. 2 of 2011-2012, § 136, eff. July 3, 2012, operative July 1, 2013; Stats.2013, c. 352 (A.B.1317), § 169, eff. Sept. 26, 2013, operative July 1, 2013.)
[To access the California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) program website with brochures for pet owners and information on animal shelter planning, see http://www.caloes.ca.gov/for-individuals-families/california-animal-response-emergency-system ).