HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
271 |
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION
recognizing the service of dogs and requesting the governor to proclaim the month of august as dog recognition month.
WHEREAS, dogs, Canine familiaris, have an impact on the lives of our people every day, from locating forensic cadaver material to disaster survivors, as demonstrated during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has more than 800 canine teams that work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to combat terrorist threats, stop the flow of illegal narcotics, and detect unreported currency, concealed humans, or smuggled agricultural products; and
WHEREAS, here at home, Hawai'i is blessed with K-9 units that have made several large drug busts at our airports, preventing kilos of crystal meth from reaching our islands' people; and
WHEREAS, our prisons are inspected and protected by working dogs who diligently ensure that drugs do not penetrate its walls and further harm Hawai'i's drug addicted; and
WHEREAS, dogs have been specifically trained to assist those with physical and mental disabilities, have the ability to sniff out cancer and detect the onset of seizures, and help to lower blood pressure, decrease serum cholesterol and relieve anxiety in people; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii has one of the highest rates of diabetes and an article published in the New York Times and re-printed in the March 15, 2011 Star-Advertiser revealed a study of 41,500 California residents that showed dog owners to be 60 percent more likely to take leisure walks than non-pet owners, older people are more likely to take walks if the walking companion is a canine, and that dog walkers show a much greater improvement in fitness than non-pet owners; and
WHEREAS, dogs are utilized in various forms of therapy and have been shown to aid in increasing recovery for patients suffering from physical, emotional, and social conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law in 1990 guarantees people with disabilities the right to be accompanied by a service animal in all areas open to the general public and that laws such as these illustrate and support the importance of dogs in our daily lives; and
WHEREAS, as of 2009, 43% of households on Oahu own at least one dog; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the Governor recognize the service of dogs in providing protection and the many contributions that "man's best friend" makes to the overall health of our community, by declaring the month of August as "Dog Recognition Month"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Hawaii Humane Society.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Proclaiming the month of August as "Hawaii State Dog Appreciation Month".