| R 238 |
| 2024 -- H 8212 Enacted 04/30/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| COMMEMORATING APRIL 30, 2024, AS "NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Fogarty, Kennedy, Fellela, Shallcross Smith, Tanzi, and Ajello |
| Date Introduced: April 30, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, National Therapy Animal Day was created to recognize the exceptional |
| dogs, cats, and other animals that bring comfort, joy, and healing to those in need; and |
| WHEREAS, Animal-assisted therapy is based on the unique bond that exists between |
| human beings and animals. Dogs and cats are most commonly used in pet therapy, however, fish, |
| guinea pigs, horses, and other animals are also used depending on the therapeutic goals of a |
| person's treatment plan; and |
| WHEREAS, There are numerous therapeutic applications that animals can provide |
| including improvement in one's self-image and sense of competence, nurturing a sense of |
| responsibility, expressing feelings and distress via the animal and developing one's curiosity and |
| motivation to learn, not to mention the endless hours of fun, warmth, learning, and love; and |
| WHEREAS, Many animals main goal is to love and please the humans in their lives, and |
| often times, total strangers. Animals frequently have the innate ability to detect emotions in |
| people from clues which are invisible to humans and many will instinctively comfort a person |
| whom they sense is in distress and in need of some extra attention; and |
| WHEREAS, Whether professionally supervised or the casual and spontaneous interaction |
| between loving animals and folks in need, animal therapy is a powerful tool for the treatment and |
| quality of life for many individuals; and |
| WHEREAS, Promoting public awareness for animal therapy is an exciting and effective |
| pathway towards a friendlier, healthier and more peaceful world; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| commemorates "National Therapy Animal Day” and urges the Director of the Department of |
| Health and Human Services and all the citizens of Rhode Island to continue to appreciate, |
| promote, and advocate for the incomparably life changing and life sustaining benefits of the |
| human companion and animal bond; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of |
| Health and Human Services, Paws from the Heart Pet Therapy, and the Windwalker Humane |
| Coalition for Professional Pet Assisted Therapy. |
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| LC006041 |
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