04-R 007

2004 -- H 7038

Enacted 01/08/04

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING JANUARY 8, 2004 TO BE "PROFESSIONAL PET ASSISTED THERAPY

AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Dennigan, Anguilla, Cerra, Lewiss, and Slater

Date Introduced: January 08, 2004

     WHEREAS, Professional pet assisted therapy is based on the unique bond that exists

between human beings and animals. There are numerous therapeutic applications these ties 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, Professionally supervised, yet casual and spontaneous interaction between

these energetic and loving animals and folks in need is a powerful tool for the therapeutic

treatment of these individuals; and

     WHEREAS, Promoting public awareness for professional assisted pet 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 and

Providence Plantations hereby proclaims January 8, 2004 to be “Professional Pet Assisted

Therapy Awareness Day” in the State of Rhode Island. We urge the Governor, 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 he is hereby authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Director of the Rhode Island

Department of Health and Human Services, and Windwalker Humane Coalition for Professional

Pet Assisted Therapy.

=======

LC00516

=======