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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois owes a debt of gratitude to
3veterans who have protected our nation by serving in the
4military; and
5 WHEREAS, The high rate of veteran suicide is a tragedy that
6Illinois should be compelled to do everything within its power
7to prevent; the Veteran Suicide Prevention Task Force gathered
8information and testimony on ways to give support to veterans
9in need and to prevent veteran suicide; and
10 WHEREAS, The Veteran Suicide Prevention Task Force found
11one method of suicide prevention is encouraging veterans to own
12therapy dogs; therapy dogs provide many positives to veterans
13such as comfort in unfamiliar places; therapy dogs provide
14constant affectionate companionship and give a sense of duty to
15a veteran that bolsters his or her sense of self; and
16 WHEREAS, There is no current standard of identification or
17regulation of therapy dogs in Illinois; the Illinois Veteran
18Suicide Prevention Task Force recommended the State of Illinois
19develop a licensing program for therapy dogs; and
20 WHEREAS, Other states also have programs for therapy dogs;
21Tennessee has a program called "Patriot Paws"; Illinois is host

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1to a program in Chicago called "Valor", which provides an
2in-house eight-week program for veterans and dogs; therefore,
3be it
4 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
5HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE
6CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Department of Financial and
7Professional Regulation to research programs of identification
8and training for therapy dogs, especially therapy dogs
9designated for veterans, and provide a report to the General
10Assembly on possibilities for legislation to provide a
11certification program for therapy dogs in the State of
12Illinois; and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14delivered to the Department of Financial and Professional
15Regulation.