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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Brooke Pinto 4
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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 9
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Councilmember Christina Henderson Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 14
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Councilmember Zachary Parker Councilmember Charles Allen 19
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Councilmember Anita Bonds 24
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 27
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 32
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To recognize and declare September 2023 to be Service Dog Month in the District of Columbia. 36
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WHEREAS, service dogs are trained to assist individuals with disabilities in essential 38
daily tasks, increasing independence and improving quality of life; 39 WHEREAS, service dogs perform essential tasks, such as guiding people with visual 40
impairments, signaling sounds for those who are deaf, retrieving items for those with mobility 41
issues, and alerting about impending health episodes; 42
WHEREAS, to support individuals with disabilities, businesses and nonprofits open to 43
the public and state and local governments are required to allow service dogs to go most places 44
members of the public can go; 45
WHEREAS, in the United States, 64 million adults and children have a disability, 46
including more than 116,000 adults in the District; 47
WHEREAS, only 16,000 service dogs from accredited training programs exist 48
nationwide and the need is growing; 49
WHEREAS, public understanding of service dogs’ training, tasks, and importance can 50
improve service dogs’ ability to provide assistance; 51
WHEREAS, Service Dog Month aims to educate our community about the benefits of 52
service dogs and the laws protecting them; and 53
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia continues to work toward becoming an inclusive 54
community in which all citizens, and their service dogs, are embraced fully in social and 55
economic life. 56
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 57
resolution may be cited as the “Service Dog Month Recognition Resolution of 2023”. 58
Sec. 2. The Council recognizes September 2023 as Service Dog Month in the District of 59
Columbia, in support of individuals with disabilities’ right to use service dogs and in recognition 60
of service dogs and the support and services they provide to adults and children with disabilities 61
in our community. 62 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in 63
the District of Columbia Register. 64