[Oregon Department of Emergency Management: Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) available at https://www.oregon.gov/oem/emresources/Plans_Assessments/Pages/CEMP.aspx]
Chapter 401. Emergency Services; Search and Rescue; Emergency Telephone Systems; Communications Districts. Animal Rescue
401.975 . Legislative findings related to major disasters or emergencies
401.977 . Provisions for companion and service animals
401.978. Written livestock emergency operations plan
Chapter 404 . Search and Rescue. Companion Animals
404.350 . Liability in search and rescue operations
401.975. Legislative findings related to major disasters or emergencies
The Legislative Assembly finds that:
(1) During an evacuation after a major disaster or an emergency, many pet owners are reluctant to leave their pets and are willing to risk their lives to protect their pets.
(2) Animals are important to their owners and the presence of an animal brings comfort to an owner and may enhance recovery for an owner distressed over injury or damage caused by a major disaster or an emergency.
(3) Significant loss of livestock as a result of a major disaster or an emergency would seriously threaten the economy of Oregon. Therefore, a livestock emergency operations plan will ensure that livestock are provided for during a major disaster or an emergency.
(4) It is essential that the State Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the Department of Human Services work together to develop emergency operations plans for animals and livestock that provide for animals and livestock during a major disaster or an emergency.
Credits
Renumbered from 401.271 in 2009 by the Legislative Counsel. Amended by Laws 2021, c. 539, § 54, eff. July 19, 2021, operative July 1, 2022; Laws 2021, c. 269, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2022, operative July 1, 2022.
401.977. Provisions for companion and service animals
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Companion animal” means a domestic animal commonly kept as a household pet.
(b) “Service animal” means an animal that assists or performs tasks for a person with a sensory, emotional, mental or physical disability.
(2) The State Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, the Department of Human Services and local governments, shall prepare a written animal emergency operations plan that provides for the evacuation, transport and temporary sheltering of companion animals and service animals during a major disaster or an emergency.
(3) The State Department of Agriculture, in developing the plan, shall emphasize the protection of human life and shall consider:
(a) Allowing owners of service animals to be evacuated, transported and sheltered with their service animals;
(b) Establishing a sufficient number of evacuation shelters equipped to temporarily shelter companion animals and service animals in close proximity to a human sheltering facility;
(c) Allowing owners and their companion animals to be evacuated together whenever possible;
(d) Establishing an identification system to ensure that owners who are separated from their companion animals or service animals during an evacuation are provided with all information necessary to locate and reclaim their animals;
(e) Transporting companion animals or service animals, in cages or carriers that safely and securely confine the animals, in an impending major disaster or emergency;
(f) Recommending that animal shelters, humane societies, veterinary offices, boarding kennels, breeders, grooming facilities, animal testing facilities and any other entity that normally houses companion animals or service animals create evacuation plans for the animals housed at their facilities;
(g) Establishing recommended minimum holding periods for companion animals or service animals that are sheltered during a major disaster or an emergency; and
(h) Creating and promoting an educational campaign for owners of companion animals or service animals that will:
(A) Encourage owners to plan for and incorporate their animals in the owners' personal plans in the event of a major disaster or an emergency; and
(B) Inform owners of companion animals or service animals about the animal emergency operations plan prepared under this section.
Credits
Renumbered from 401.272 in 2009 by the Legislative Counsel. Amended by Laws 2021, c. 539, § 55a, eff. July 19, 2021, operative July 1, 2022; Laws 2021, c. 269, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2022, operative July 1, 2022.
401.978. Written livestock emergency operations plan
(1) As used in this section, “livestock” means cattle, horses, sheep and any other animals designated by the State Department of Agriculture.
(2) The State Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and local governments, shall prepare a written livestock emergency operations plan that provides for the evacuation, transport and temporary sheltering of livestock during a major disaster or an emergency.
(3) The State Department of Agriculture, in developing the plan, shall consider:
(a) Methods for providing adequate food and water for livestock during a major disaster or an emergency;
(b) Methods for providing livestock with adequate shelter or protection from harsh weather conditions during a major disaster or an emergency;
(c) Creating and promoting an educational campaign for owners of livestock that will:
(A) Encourage owners to plan for and incorporate their livestock in the owners' personal plans in the event of a major disaster or an emergency; and
(B) Inform owners of livestock about the livestock emergency operations plan prepared under this section; and
(d) Any other methods or arrangements that the department determines would protect livestock during a major disaster or an emergency.
Credits
Renumbered from 401.274 in 2009 by the Legislative Counsel. Amended by Laws 2021, c. 539, § 56, eff. July 19, 2021, operative July 1, 2022.
404.350. Liability in search and rescue operations
(1) A person engaged in search and rescue operations may make every practicable attempt under the circumstances to rescue a companion animal.
(2) This section does not impose liability on or expand liability of a person engaged in search and rescue operations.
Credits
Renumbered from 401.273 in 2009 by the Legislative Counsel.