HR0224 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0224 LRB103 32035 LAW 60924 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Therapy animals provide comfort, joy, and a sense of well-being to individuals in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other settings; and

WHEREAS, Therapy animals include dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other animals that are specially trained to provide affection, support, and therapeutic benefits to individuals in need; and

WHEREAS, There is a growing body of research on therapy animals that demonstrates the wide variety of ways in which they can make a difference in our lives; and

WHEREAS, Therapy animals improve mental wellness by decreasing fear, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation; they influence our physical health through lowering perceived levels of pain, shortening recovery times, and even influencing those of us who are ill to have a more positive outlook about their future; and

WHEREAS, In addition to making us feel better, therapy animals can also help us learn by providing a source of motivation, stimulation, and focus that has been shown to foster reading abilities, including fluency and comprehension, by giving those in need confidence to explore, socialize, and succeed; and

WHEREAS, Therapy Animal Day is a day to recognize and honor the dedication and hard work of therapy animals, their handlers, and the organizations that support their efforts; and

WHEREAS, Therapy Animal Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of therapy animals and their positive impact on individuals with physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare April 30, 2023 as Illinois Therapy Animal Day as a way to recognize and honor therapy animal volunteers and their amazing animals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all citizens of Illinois to recognize the important contributions of therapy animals and to support the organizations that train and provide these animals to individuals in need.