Page 8 The Skanner September 6, 2017
News
French Labor Law
Changes Will Make it
Easier to Hire, Fire
Pets in Crisis: Hurricane Harvey
By Jasmine Streeter, DVM
Special to The Skanner News
O
Controversial law passed
Thursday is meant to stimulate
the country’s sluggish economy
Siblings displaced by Hurricane Harvey entertain their dog Olive while sheltering in Gallery
Furniture Showroom, Aug. 30, 2017, in Richmond, Texas.
remain in their homes, because
they did not want to abandon
their pets.
Numerous organizations from
all over the country poured into
Texas to rescue pets and livestock
from fl ooded areas. Some worked
on reuniting pets with their
loved ones, while others rescued
animals from fl ooded shelters.
Videos on social media show cow-
boys roping released steers and
leading horses to dry land. Thou-
sands of animal lives have been
saved but many more are still be-
ing rescued. Many local animal
organizations are assisting in
rescue and disaster relief, contact
them to see how you can help.
Creating a pet disaster pre-
paredness kit will aid you in
emergency situations and can
easily be created. An emergency
contact number, tag and micro-
chip are the most important tools
if you and your pet become sepa-
rated. A laminated recent photo,
photocopied medical record, fi rst
aid kit and two-week-medicine
supply should be included in
your kit as well. Dry and canned
pet food should be kept specifi -
cally for emergency situations
and replaced every few months.
Seven days worth of bottled wa-
ter should be included for each
pet along with portable food and
water dishes. Toys, an extra collar
or harness, trash bags, and sco-
opable litter should be kept for
cleanup and travel.
Even through devastation, the
resilient spirit of the people of
Texas can be felt. The road to nor-
malcy for many will be hard, but
the love from their pets will bring
comfort. To know even in times
of despair the life of their pet is
worth saving, gives me hope that
we all have the ability to love and
come together.
To help pets aff ected by Hurri-
cane Harvey, donations are being
accepted by the SPCA of Texas,
San Antonio Humane Society and
Louisiana SPCA. Many organiza-
tions are requesting monetary
donations or gift cards instead
of other supplies, this way they
can make sure resources are al-
located more eff ectively and effi -
ciently.
Reach Dr. Jasmine at drjasmine@
theskanner.com.
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AP PHOTO/THIBAULT CAMUS
ver the
past few
days we
h a v e
witnessed
unbelievable
acts of kind-
ness and her-
oism towards Dr. Jasmine Streeter
humans and
animals aff ected by Hurricane
Harvey. People from all walks of
life banded together during this
catastrophic fl ood. According to
the National Weather Service,
Hurricane Harvey unleashed 27
trillion gallons of rain, causing
75 billion dollars in losses. The
Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (FEMA) estimates
450,000 residents will be in need
of assistance. Many of the resi-
dents own animals.
Of the 72,000 people rescued, a
signifi cant number had pets. Wet
dogs, cats, even birds were shown
riding in boats, baskets and cool-
ers. A few animals were seen be-
ing airlift ed with their loved ones
who had lost everything, and they
were clinging to their only piece
of hope. Tearfully, I watched own-
ers struggle to carry their pets in
waste-deep-water, some walking
miles to seek shelter. Thankfully,
many shelters in Texas were pre-
pared to accept families with ani-
mals unlike in past disasters.
In 2006 the Pet Evacuation and
Transportation Standards (PETS)
Act was passed, which mandates
that FEMA accommodate pets
and service animals in their plans
for evacuating residents facing
disaster. This bill was passed af-
ter thousands of animals died be-
cause of abandonment aft er Hur-
ricane Katrina. Time magazine
reported in its June 6, 2007 issue
that of those surveyed that did
not evacuate, 44 percent chose to
France’s Prime Minister Edouard Philippe gives a media conference
with Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud in Paris, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017.
France’s prime minister says fi ve bold, and divisive, labor reforms
are meant to “cure” not “treat the symptoms” of France’s high long-
standing jobless rate.
By Elaine Ganley
Associated Press
PARIS — President Em-
manuel Macron’s most
daring undertaking, re-
forming France’s nearly
sacrosanct labor laws,
got cheers and jeers as
it went public Thursday.
It trims union powers,
adds a voice for small
businesses and creates
easier ways to hire and
fi re workers.
The measures meant
to foster growth, reduce
the nation’s stubborn-
ly high unemployment
and revolutionize the
“
Opponents have feared
changes will weaken
France’s hard-won work-
er protections that have
become globally synon-
ymous with the envied
French lifestyle. Left -
wing opponents fear the
changes hand too much
power to profi t-focused
bosses.
“Nobody today can se-
riously say that our ...
labor law favors recruit-
ment,” Prime Minister
Edouard Philippe said in
unveiling the fi ve mea-
sures. “The labor law as it
is in our country is oft en
perceived as an obstacle
Nobody today can seriously
say that our ... labor law fa-
vors recruitment. The labor
law as it is in our country is
oft en perceived as an obsta-
cle to recruiting, an obstacle
to investment
—Prime Minister Philippe
way the French work
will get a hearing in the
streets, with two protests
planned for September.
Overhauling France’s
complex labor laws,
which authorities say
have proved a hindrance
to investors and employ-
ers, is part of a larger
program by Macron to
stimulate France’s slug-
gish economy. The high-
stakes move comes just
as the new 39-year-old
president’s popularity
is sinking. But plans to
make the labor market
more fl exible were at the
heart of his election cam-
paign.
to recruiting, an obstacle
to investment.”
Still, Philippe conced-
ed the government was
treading on risky territo-
ry politically.
Even before the re-
forms were unveiled,
the hardline CGT union
called for a day of action
Sept. 12, and on Thursday
it encouraged retirees
and students to join in.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc
Melenchon has called for
another protest on Sept.
23.
One key measure pro-
posed by the government
See FRENCH on page 11