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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
25-120
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 3, 2023
To recognize and declare September 2023 to be Service Dog Month in the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, service dogs are trained to assist individuals with disabilities in essential
daily tasks, increasing independence and improving quality of life;
WHEREAS, service dogs perform essential tasks, such as guiding people with visual
impairments, signaling sounds for those who are deaf, retrieving items for those with mobility
issues, and alerting about impending health episodes;
WHEREAS, to support individuals with disabilities, businesses and nonprofits open to
the public and state and local governments are required to allow service dogs to go most places
members of the public can go;
WHEREAS, in the United States, 64 million adults and children have a disability,
including more than 116,000 adults in the District;
WHEREAS, only 16,000 service dogs from accredited training programs exist
nationwide and the need is growing;
WHEREAS, public understanding of service dogs’ training, tasks, and importance can
improve service dogs’ ability to provide assistance;
WHEREAS, Service Dog Month aims to educate our community about the benefits of
service dogs and the laws protecting them; and
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia continues to work toward becoming an inclusive
community in which all citizens, and their service dogs, are embraced fully in social and
economic life.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Service Dog Month Recognition Resolution of 2023”.
Sec. 2. The Council recognizes September 2023 as Service Dog Month in the District of
Columbia, in support of individuals with disabilities’ right to use service dogs and in recognition ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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of service dogs and the support and services they provide to adults and children with disabilities
in our community.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.