Assembly Resolution No. 358

BY: M. of A. Malliotakis

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        April  30,  2019, as Therapy Animal Day in the State
        of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to  recognize  an
official day that is set aside to appreciate the service, companionship,
loyalty,  and medical benefits therapeutic animals bring to the lives of
citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to  proclaim  April  30,  2019,  as
Therapy  Amimal  Day  in  the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Therapy Animal Day; and

  WHEREAS, National Therapy Animal Day was created by Pet Partners  to
recognize  all of the exceptional therapy animals who partner with their
human companions to bring comfort and healing to those in need; it  also
works  to  raise  awareness and educate the public about the significant
role these animals play in enhancing the health of humans; and

  WHEREAS, Therapy animals and their handlers  can  be  found  helping
people  of  all  ages  in  a  variety  of  different  settings including
hospitals, pediatric care units, schools, and nursing homes; some of the
animals used in therapy include domesticated  pets,  farm  animals,  and
marine mammals; and

  WHEREAS,  The  primary  purpose  of  therapy  animals  is to provide
affection and comfort; these kind and  compassionate  animals  are  most
often  privately  owned and tend to visit facilities on a regular basis;
and

  WHEREAS,  Dedicated  to  helping  people  with  a  wide  variety  of
problems,  therapy animals can be classified into three different types:
Therapeutic Visitation Animals are household  pets  whose  owners  bring
them to care facilities; Animal Assisted Therapy Animals assist physical
and  occupational  therapists  at  rehabilitation  centers; and Facility
Therapy Animals primarily work in nursing homes  for  the  purpose    of
helping patients with Alzheimer's disease and mental illness; and

  WHEREAS,  Visits  by  therapy  animals  in an outpatient setting can
provide many patients with significant reductions in pain and  emotional
distress;  these visits have also been proven to give family members and
friends of patients a sense of comfort and well-being; and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore, therapy animals have helped numerous  war-time
veterans  in making the difficult transition from serving bravely in our
military to returning to life in the civilian world; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
extraordinary  therapy  animals  and  their  handlers  who   demonstrate
tremendous  care and compassion by bringing comfort and healing to those
in need; now, therefore, be it


  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to  proclaim  April  30,  2019,  as
Therapy Animal Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York.