The Foreign Service Journal, June 2011

P ets are family. Studies have found that they not only pro- vide us with companionship and unconditional love, but also help to alleviate stress, nurture us when we are ill, give us a sense of security, and provide long-termphysical and emo- tional health benefits. Our Foreign Service pets also provide continuity and connectedness within our mobile lifestyle. AFSA’s recent pet survey garnered 2,694 respondents, a tes- timony to the importance of pets in the Foreign Service com- munity. Ninety-one percent of respondents (unaccompanied, married or partnered, married or single with children) stated they have had pets while assigned to an overseas post. When it comes to the bidding process,many Foreign Service personnel factor in their pet’s needs along with quality of schools, em- ployment opportunities for family members and quality of life at post. Fifty-eight percent of respondents considered their pet’s needs“very im- portant” (with another 33 percent considering them“somewhat impor- tant”) when bidding on assignments. While the survey did not directly ask what would happen if a pet could not be taken to post, many respon- dents addressed the possibility, with comments such as: “I would not apply for an assignment unless my pet could also come.” “I would stay inD.C. and not go overseas.” “I amnot leaving without my cat!” “I would not go to that post.” “I have no idea — it would be a real challenge.” “I don’t know; I have always been able to, and hope I will not have to face this.” Pets in Evacuations Be it a natural disaster or amanmade one, the uncertainty of what may happen to the pet(s) adds enormous stress and anx- iety to an already urgent scenario. The current Department of State policy on pets during an evacuation from post is simple: they are not evacuated. Despite that, from time to time, missions have assisted in evacuating pets frompost at the owner’s expense, but only under special circumstances. There is no guarantee. If time allows, many decide to leave their pets with domestic help, at a board- ing facility, the veterinarian’s office or with local friends at post. Unfortunately, evacuations are reviewed in one-month incre- ments, so the decision to return to post could take months. To remedy this, AFSA has sent a memo to Director General Nancy Powell and Under Secretary for Management Pat Kennedy suggesting ways to include pets in emergency pre- paredness planning. Thememo points out that by doing so, the department and post will be better able to focus on critical emer- gency tasks, bring department policy into conformity with U.S. legal and societal norms on animals, contribute to a positive public perception of the department, and support the health and morale of employees and family members. The U.S. Army has addressed the issue of pets by acknowl- edging their role within the family:“Although the evacuation of pets with families is not authorized by federal regulations, past experience has shown that evacuees will bring pets with them. Therefore, repatriation centers and intermediate processing/ staging areas must be prepared to take care of pets. Families are financially responsible for moving their pets to and from the theater.” Japan’s recent disaster, subsequent concern over possible ra- diation contamination and evacua- tion of Foreign Service and military personnel from Japan all prompted the Animal Legal Defense Fund to urge Secretary of State Hillary Rod- ham Clinton and Secretary of De- fense Robert Gates “to clarify the U.S. government’s policy on whether or not military families can bring their pets with them— or must be forced to choose between staying in harm’s way and abandoning a beloved com- panion.” In 2005,Hurricane Katrina devas- tated the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf coasts, a human tragedy of great proportions. The tragedy was compounded when residents were evacuated, but forced to leave their animals and pets behind. The widely published photo of a lone dog on the roof of a floating house said it all. As a result, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, which became law in 2006. Public Law 109-308, known as PETS, requires states seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency assis- tance during disasters to accommodate pets and service animals in their evacuation plans. Other Concerns Even under normal circumstances, traveling with a pet to post can be a hair-raising experience. As one survey respondent pointed out,“The logistics of trying to coordinate safe transport from post to post are enormous!” My own experience as a Foreign Service spouse offers a good illustration. After home leave, I returned to Kigali to pick up our two dogs. The flight to Maputo was via an overnight stop in Johannesburg. The dogs had to fly as cargo due to quaran- tine restrictions in South Africa. As I waited for my luggage, I was horrified to see Cali and Hunter’s orange crates coming down the conveyor belt: they had landed in South Africa! The J U N E 2 0 1 1 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 55 A F S A N E W S Looking Out for Our Foreign Service Pets BY DONNA AYERST Continued on page 57 AFSA’s recent pet survey garnered 2,694 respondents, a testimony to the importance of pets in the Foreign Service community. Ninety-one percent of respondents (unaccompanied, married or partnered, married or single with children) stated they have had pets while assigned to an overseas post.