2025 -- H 6297
========
LC002480
========
S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
____________
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING APRIL 30, 2025, AS "NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DA Y" IN THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Ajello,
Tanzi, Read, Shallcross Smith, Edwards, and Cortvriend
Date Introduced: May 01, 2025
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, National Therapy Animal Day was created to recognize the exceptional 1
dogs, cats, and other animals that bring comfort, joy, and healing to those in need; and 2
WHEREAS, Animal-assisted therapy is based on the unique bond that exists between 3
human beings and animals. Dogs and cats are most commonly used in pet therapy, however, fish, 4
guinea pigs, horses, and other animals are also used depending on the therapeutic goals of a 5
person's treatment plan; and 6
WHEREAS, There are numerous therapeutic applications that animals can provide 7
including improvement in one's self-image and sense of competence, nurturing a sense of 8
responsibility, expressing feelings and distress via the animal and developing one's curiosity and 9
motivation to learn, not to mention the endless hours of fun, warmth, learning, and love; and 10
WHEREAS, Many animals main goal is to love and please the humans in their lives, and 11
often times, total strangers. Animals frequently have the innate ability to detect emotions in 12
people from clues which are invisible to humans and many will instinctively comfort a person 13
whom they sense is in distress and in need of some extra attention; and 14
WHEREAS, Whether professionally supervised or the casual and spontaneous interaction 15
between loving animals and folks in need, animal therapy is a powerful tool for the treatment and 16
quality of life for many individuals; and 17
WHEREAS, Promoting public awareness for animal therapy is an exciting and effective 18
pathway towards a friendlier, healthier and more peaceful world; now, therefore be it 19
LC002480 - Page 2 of 2
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 1
commemorates "National Therapy Animal Day” and urges the Director of the Department of 2
Health and Human Services and all the citizens of Rhode Island to continue to appreciate, 3
promote, and advocate for the incomparably life changing and life sustaining benefits of the 4
human companion and animal bond; and be it further 5
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 6
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of 7
Health and Human Services, Paws from the Heart Pet Therapy, and the Windwalker Humane 8
Coalition for Professional Pet Assisted Therapy. 9
========
LC002480
========