Designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey.
By formally recognizing March 16 as 'Paws Healing Heroes Day', this resolution aims to raise awareness among the public about the invaluable contributions of service dogs in the lives of veterans. Service dogs have shown to effectively alleviate various symptoms related to PTSD and other mental health conditions, along with assisting veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma or seizures. The resolution also acts as a call for recognition of the community organizations, such as Paws Healing Heroes of Glassboro, dedicated to the training and placement of service dogs for veterans.
SJR33 is a resolution that designates March 16 as 'Paws Healing Heroes Day' in New Jersey, highlighting the critical role of service dogs in assisting veterans facing challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The resolution underscores the significant veteran population in New Jersey, estimated to be over 300,000, and recognizes the mental health issues that many veterans experience. With up to 29% of veterans from recent conflicts affected by PTSD, the importance of service dogs in mitigating these issues is emphasized.
While the resolution promotes awareness and support for service dogs, it also highlights a significant funding issue, as the average cost to rescue and train a service dog ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, often not covered by insurance or veterans’ benefits. This raises concerns about sustainability and support for organizations involved in this crucial work. As SJR33 makes its way through legislative processes, discussions around existing funding mechanisms and community involvement will likely surface, as these factors are critical to the success of the initiatives aimed at assisting veterans.