ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 232

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 2, 2021

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblyman  KEVIN J. ROONEY

District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Designates April 30 of each year as “Therapy Animal Day” in New Jersey.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Joint Resolution designating April 30 as “Therapy Animal Day” in New Jersey.

 

Whereas, A therapy animal is a non-task trained animal (usually a pet) that has received specific training to interact with the public and provide comfort to a person in an institutional setting, including, but not be limited to, a hospital, mental health facility, nursing or retirement home, or treatment facility for abused children or those suffering from autism spectrum disorders; and

Whereas, A therapy animal is also trained to interact with the public and provide emotional support to a person who has been through a traumatic event; and

Whereas, Clinical studies have shown that therapy animals have a positive impact on, and help reduce recovery times for, patients in institutional settings; and

Whereas, In the wake of the 2012 mass shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the role of therapy animals in providing emotional support to victims of violence and post-traumatic stress disorder become the subject of several media reports, and interaction with therapy dogs became an integral part of the counseling the surviving children received; and

Whereas, Therapy animal teams, such as those utilized by Pet Partners, interact with a variety of communities and populations including veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, elderly individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, persons with developmental disabilities, students with literacy challenges, and individuals nearing the end of life or in the advance stages of a terminal illness; and

Whereas, Pet Partners is the national leader in demonstrating and promoting the health and wellness benefits of animal-assisted therapy, activities, and education; and

Whereas, With 10,000 registered therapy animal teams operating across the United States and making more than three million visits annually in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and hospice care, the therapy animals who partner with human companions bring comfort and healing to those in need; and

Whereas, Pet Partners therapy animal teams operating in New Jersey play an essential role in improving the health and well-being of the citizens of this State who benefit both emotionally and physically from interactions with therapy animals; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    April 30th of every year is designated as “Therapy Animal Day” in New Jersey in order to recognize Pet Partners therapy animal teams operating in New Jersey and their essential role in improving the health and well-being of the citizens of this State who benefit both emotionally and physically from interactions with therapy animals.

 

     2.    The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe “Therapy Animal Day” with appropriate activities and programs.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This joint resolution designates April 30th of every year as “Therapy Animal Day” in New Jersey in order to recognize Pet Partners therapy animal teams operating in New Jersey and their essential role in improving the health and well-being of the citizens of the State who benefit both emotionally and physically from interactions with therapy animals.