SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 33

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 21, 2024

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Joint Resolution No. 33.

This joint resolution designates March 16 as “Paws Healing Heroes Day” in New Jersey. 

     Service dogs play an important role in assisting veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma, and seizure disorder.  It is estimated that 29 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience PTSD, and 28 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience TBI.  New Jersey has a current veteran population of over 300,000.

     However, despite federal law to expand the availability of service dogs to veterans, the training and placement of service dogs falls primarily upon community non-profit organizations that depend on charitable donations, such as Paws Healing Heroes of Glassboro.  The average cost to rescue, train, and present a service dog to a veteran can be $3,000 to $5,000, which is not covered by insurance or other veterans’ benefits. 

      Designating “Paws Healing Heroes Day” will promote greater awareness of the unique role of service dogs in assisting veterans.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.