Latest news with #FOUNDAct
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man's reunion with dog after LA fires inspires pet protection bill
(NewsNation) — A California lawmaker is introducing a bill aimed at helping save pets left behind during natural disasters. The bill is inspired by the reunion of Casey Colvin and his dog, Oreo, who was found alive in the rubble of the Palisades fire in Los Angeles. Last month, California Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur announced AB 478, also known as the FOUND Act (Friends of Oreo Uniting During Disasters). 40-year-old blind cockatoo has sight restored at NC State If approved, the bill would require local governments to update emergency pet rescue procedures, provide online resources for pet eviction and reunification, and hold rescued pets for at least 90 days before adoption or euthanasia. The act aims to ensure pet owners have procedures and resources available to reunite with their pets during disasters. Additionally, it seeks to prevent pet owners from endangering themselves by attempting unauthorized rescues. 'Pets are more than just property — they are family. When disaster strikes, no one should have to choose between their safety and their pet's survival,' Zbur said in a statement. The inspiration for the act comes in part from Colvin and his beloved Pomeranian, who were separated after Oreo went missing during fires that ravaged their Los Angeles neighborhood. But, after five days, the pair were reunited. RI man makes 'stuffies' for those in need Colvin told 'NewsNation Live' Monday that once the bill is passed in California, it's important to implement bills like this nationwide as so many states are getting hit by natural disasters. 'If you're in a situation where you can't get to your animals, hopefully this legislation will help you get to where you need to go to take care of your animals,' he said. 'Also, if your animals escape during a disaster, they'll help you reunite with them afterwards.' The bill is sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rescued dog from LA evades capture after escaping adoptive home in Alaska
The Brief A German shepherd-husky mix named Jackie escaped her new home in Alaska after being rescued from a California shelter. Despite multiple attempts, Jackie has eluded capture for nearly two months, living in a forested area near a busy road. Volunteers and animal control officers continue to search for Jackie, hoping to build trust with her and bring her to safety. JUNEAU, Alaska - A German shepherd-husky dog has evaded capture for nearly two months after being rescued from a California shelter and running away from her adoptive home in Alaska. What we know The formerly stray dog named Jackie was rescued from an overburdened shelter in Los Angeles County after devastating wildfires forced homeowners to turn over their pets. Jackie was given to the shelter days before the fires started. She faced possible euthanasia, and was given a home far away in Juneau, Alaska. But Jackie didn't stay long. The German shepherd-husky mix slipped her collar on the first day with her new family in mid-February and absconded to a pocket of forest. Since then, she has been living by her wits — eluding a trap that was set with food such as cheeseburgers or chicken by animal control workers and volunteers worried about her. RELATED: 'We Love LA' concert held for fire survivors, heroes The forested area Jackie frequents is near a busy road. Further, black bears are starting to reemerge from hibernation, raising the potential the dog could have an unfortunate run-in. Volunteers have stopped putting out food and cat kibble to avoid attracting bears. What they're saying "Maybe this is what she wants, is to be free and feral like this," said Thom Young-Bayer, a Juneau animal control officer. "It's not a safe way for her to live here." What we don't know Jackie's whereabouts are still unknown. Young-Bayer and his wife, Skylar, have been searching in their free time, often at night, for the skittish canine, painstakingly trying to build trust with her. Jackie has been known to burrow into the soft moss on the forest floor for cover and to avoid looking directly into the Young-Bayers' headlamps, making it hard to detect her eyes in the dark. RELATED: FOUND Act: New law aims to help pets during natural disasters On videos Thom Young-Bayer has taken with his infrared camera, Jackie's red heat signature resembles something out of the movie "Predator." On a recent day, Young-Bayer caught a fleeting glimpse of Jackie in the lush forest, her dark coat helping camouflage her movements among the stumps and roots. He surveyed the undergrowth and surroundings but came up empty — as did a nearby trap he had been monitoring for weeks. When Young-Bayer returned to a trail where a fellow animal control officer had been waiting, he learned Jackie had trotted past on a frozen pond. Lately Young-Bayer been encountering Jackie on every visit. Young-Bayer says that's progress. Weeks ago, if Jackie saw someone, she would flee. He and his wife aren't trying to sneak up on the dog and want to help her feel safe, he said. Dig deeper Juneau Animal Rescue, a local pet adoption agency that also handles animal control and protective services, has asked that people who see Jackie report their sightings. Given the dog's skittishness, officials want to limit those searching for her. The backstory Little is known about Jackie's history. She was brought into a California shelter as a stray in early January, days before deadly wildfires swept through the Los Angeles area. She is believed to be 2 to 3 years old. Her intake forms listed her as quiet with a moderate anxiety and stress level. Skylar Young-Bayer, who has volunteered with rescue groups in that region, helped arrange for Jackie and two other dogs at risk of being euthanized to be transferred to Juneau for adoption. Jackie was with a foster home before her adoption placing. Other dogs have gained fame as fugitives, including Scrim, a 17-pound, mostly terrier mutt who was recaptured in New Orleans in February — in a cat trap — after months on the lam. Mike Mazouch, animal control and protection director for Juneau Animal Rescue, noted Jackie didn't have much time to bond with her new family before bolting. Officers deemed trying to tranquilize her as too risky because they didn't know if they would be able to find her once she was sedated. Mazouch accompanied Thom Young-Bayer to the forest last week to disassemble the trap when Jackie came within 50 feet (15 meters) of Mazouch on the frozen pond. Mazouch snapped a photo of her as she appeared between the skinny, tall trees. He called efforts to capture her a "battle of wills." "She is not willing to give up, and we're not willing to give up, either," Mazouch said. The Source The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from various reports provided by Juneau Animal Rescue, animal control officers, and volunteers involved in the search for Jackie, the German shepherd-husky mix. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New bill aimed at protecting pets during disasters introduced in California legislature
( — Democratic Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) announced a new bill aimed at protecting pets during and after weather emergencies. Assembly Bill 478, also called the FOUND Act, was inspired by a pomeranian named Oreo who went missing during the Palisades Fire before being reunited with its owner. Video Above: Woman reunited with cat presumed list in Palisades Fire 'Pets are more than just property—they are family. When disaster strikes, no one should have to choose between their safety and their pet's survival,' Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur said. 'The FOUND Act ensures that local governments have clear rescue plans in place, so pet owners don't have to risk their lives to save their animals.' Zbur said the bill has three 'key provisions.' The first provision requires cities and counties to codify procedures regarding the rescue of pets in mandatory evacuation zones. The second provision requires local governments to provide online resources regarding pet evacuation and reunification. Local governments would also be required to post an online list of pets that have been rescued. The last provision requires pets rescued from an evacuated area are held for 90 days before being adopted, transferred or euthanized. According to Zbur, the current law only guarantees owners a 72-hour window. Zbur said Pacific Palisades resident Casey Colvin attempted to return home to save his two dogs but was stopped at a roadblock. CalFire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua offered to rescue his dog but was unable to find one of them, Zbur said. Colvin received a call five days later saying Oreo had been spotted on the remains of his property. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
18-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
Viral video of fire victim reuniting with dog after Palisades Fire inspires new pet rescue bill
A viral video of a fire victim reuniting with his dog days after the Palisades fire erupted in January, has inspired a new bill aimed at protecting pets during emergencies and disasters. Casey Colvin was not home when the fire broke out in his Pacific Palisades neighborhood and mandatory evacuation orders were issued. Local officials set up roadblocks prohibiting residents and traffic from entering certain fire zone areas. CalFire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua offered to go to Colvin's home and search for his two dogs. Pascua was able to rescue one but his other dog, Oreo, was still missing. As the fire continued to grow and spread Colvin's house was destroyed. Five days later, Colvin received a call from the Animal Advocacy Network, that Oreo was seen near his property. The reunification was captured on video and quickly went viral. "You're seeing this surreal experience that you could only dream of," Colvin told KCAL News during an interview. "When you have the rallying support of the community… it really really helped me." On Tuesday, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur announced the Friends of Oreo Uniting During Disasters (FOUND Act). The bill is aimed at ensuring local governments have procedures in place to support pet owners during evacuations. "Pets are more than just property—they are family," Zbur said. "When disaster strikes, no one should have to choose between their safety and their pet's survival." A statement from Zbur's office said the bill is sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation and helps promote legislation to save animals across the U.S. The key goals of the FOUND Act are pet rescue procedures, emergency preparedness resources and extended holding period for rescued pets. "The FOUND Act ensures that local governments have clear rescue plans in place, so pet owners don't have to risk their lives to save their animals," Zbur said. "While we've seen incredible examples of fire and safety officials working alongside the public to reunite pets with their families, as well as the extraordinary efforts of local animal shelters and rescuers, we owe it to pet owners across California to ensure that every city and county has a plan in place before disaster strikes." Zbur also said the bill is a critical step in the right direction as the state continues to face wildfire threats. The legislation is expected to be introduced to a policy committee in the coming days.
NBC News
18-03-2025
- General
- NBC News
Viral video of Oreo the dog's L.A. fire reunion inspires lawmaker to help save pets during disasters
LOS ANGELES — A California lawmaker this week introduced legislation inspired by the viral reunion of 'Oreo' the dog and his owner during the Los Angeles fires that aims to help save pets left behind during natural disasters. The proposed law, which has been filed in the California State Assembly but is not yet publicly available for viewing, is called the FOUND (Friends of Oreo Uniting During Disasters) Act. "The FOUND Act is something that embraces what we all understand, how important our pets are and that they are parts of our family," California Assemblymember Rick Zbur, who authored the bill and represents portions of Los Angeles, said in an exclusive interview with NBC News. "This grew out of the circumstances that so many people faced trying to reunite themselves with their pets when they were evacuated throughout Southern California because of the recent wildfires," Zbur said. "One of the things that we realized is that, you know, cities and towns don't really have procedures to help people reunite with their pets." The measure, AB 478, calls for local jurisdictions to include in their emergency plans a process for retrieving animals left behind during mandatory evacuations. It also seeks to have cities establish an emergency rescue hotline to help evacuees get assistance. Zbur said individual counties or cities would determine specifics and could include allowing pet owners to be escorted into an evacuated area by emergency service personnel, or a designated group like a humane society or nonprofit. "We don't want people to basically be skirting the roadblocks," Zbur said. "So if we want to protect human health and safety, we need to provide ways of people reuniting with their pet." Zbur said the law is directly inspired by Casey Colvin and his beloved pomeranian Oreo, whose emotional reunion, captured by NBC News during the Palisades Fire, struck a chord with millions. The viral video revealed the heartbreaking reality for many fire victims separated from their pets during evacuations. "I don't want there to be another person sobbing on the side of the road, begging the police to let them get to their dog," said Colvin, who added that he hopes to testify at the state Capitol next month. "I just want to use this moment, because, you know, 15 minutes is fleeting, that while you have the spotlight to just try to help other people," he said. The bill will now work through the legislative process; if the Assembly approves it, it will move to the Senate. If approved there, it would go to the governor's desk to be signed into law. Judie Mancuso, CEO and president of Social Companion Legislation, the animal rights advocacy group sponsoring the FOUND Act, said the law would be the first of its kind in the country and that the hope is it could be replicated nationwide to save animals not only during fires but other natural disasters like hurricanes. "The hope is that other states will follow," Mancuso said. "We have a lot of animal-loving people across the United States who consider their dogs and cats their family."
