83R9032 BK-D
By: Herrero H.R. No. 1418
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Alisa Johnson, an active-duty
Marine Corps officer and a navy wife, has been nominated for the
2013 Military Spouse of the Year award; and
WHEREAS, Established by Military Spouse magazine in 2008,
this accolade pays tribute to an individual who has rendered
outstanding support to the military community; Lieutenant Johnson
was nominated for the honor in consequence of her cofounding and
leading the nonprofit organization Dogs on Deployment, through
which members of the military can find volunteers who will take care
of their pets while the owners are away on assignment; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Johnson first conceived the idea for DoD
after discovering that she and her husband, Shawn, were to be
deployed at the same time, leaving one of their dogs without a
caretaker; although they were ultimately successful in making
arrangements, they remained concerned about other service members
facing the same challenge; in 2011, the Johnsons founded Dogs on
Deployment, which has since helped to find temporary homes for
nearly 200 pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, and
parrots; and
WHEREAS, In her capacity as president of the organization,
Lieutenant Johnson oversees the group's projects, works to raise
awareness of issues affecting active-duty personnel who own pets,
and endeavors to allay the costs of ownership for service members
and veterans in need; in addition, she has personally rescued a
number of military pets from shelters, assisted with their medical
bills, and matched them with new owners; she has also campaigned to
end breed restrictions in base housing and has led efforts to
promote responsible pet ownership through proper training, spaying
and neutering, and microchip registration; and
WHEREAS, While providing dynamic leadership for Dogs on
Deployment, Lieutenant Johnson is forging a promising career in the
marines; she is currently stationed at Naval Air Station Corpus
Christi, where she is attending flight school; in spite of the
distance that often separates them, she and her husband have
maintained a strong relationship, bolstered in part by their shared
passion for helping fellow members of the armed forces; and
WHEREAS, Alisa Johnson is helping to ensure that those who
valiantly serve our country can enjoy peace of mind about their
pets, knowing that their animals are being well cared for, and she
may take justifiable pride in being considered for this prestigious
honor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate First Lieutenant Alisa Johnson on
her nomination for the Military Spouse of the Year award and extend
to her sincere best wishes for continued success in all her
endeavors; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Lieutenant Johnson as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.