SJR33 TR

Sponsored by:

Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

Senator NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Polistina and Beach

SYNOPSIS

Designates March 16 as “Paws Healing Heroes Day” in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee with technical review.

A Joint Resolution designating March 16 as “Paws Healing Heroes Day” in New Jersey.

Whereas, New Jersey has a current veteran population of over 300,000 spanning World War II through to present day conflicts; and

Whereas, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 29 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and

Whereas, Scientific studies also estimate that upwards of 28 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience traumatic brain injury (TBI); and

Whereas, A growing body of scientific research has shown that service dogs can also reduce the severity and occurrence of symptoms of PTSD, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation; and

Whereas, Among other assistance animals, service dogs have specifically been long used to support persons with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities, including persons with TBI; and

Whereas, Service dogs have also been trained to specifically support veterans with military sexual trauma and seizure disorder; and

Whereas, In recognition of the role that service dogs have in assisting America’s veterans, the “PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act” was enacted by Congress in 2021 in an effort to expand the availability of service dogs; and

Whereas, Nevertheless, the training of dogs, including rescue dogs, to become service dogs, and more specifically service dogs that meet the needs of veterans, falls primarily upon community non-profit organizations that depend on charitable donations; and

Whereas, Paws Healing Heroes, of Glassboro, is one such organization in New Jersey dedicated to training service dogs for pairing with veterans; and

Whereas, The average cost to rescue, train, and present a service dog to a veteran can be $3,000 to $5,000, which is often not covered by insurance or other veterans’ benefits; and

Whereas, New Jersey highlights the important role that assistance animals play in the lives of persons with disabilities through “Assistance Animal Recognition Day” on Wednesday of the second week of August; and

Whereas, The general public should also be made aware of the unique and important role of service dogs in assisting veterans; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. March 16 of each year is designated “Paws Healing Heroes Day” in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the special role of service dogs in assisting America’s veterans with such conditions as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and seizure disorder.

2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the day and calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.