Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring September 2024, as Service Dog Month
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council read and approve the proclamation and present to Rebecca Murphy, Co-Chair of the Rockville Human Rights Commission.
Discussion
National Service Dog Month, celebrated every September, takes place to show appreciation to our four-legged friends who often play a huge role in the lives of human beings. Yes, service dogs are more than just pets since they have been trained to take care of humans suffering from certain ailments, disabilities, or mental health issues. Therefore, the sole purpose of their life becomes to aid their human companion and make their lives easier. This is why it is essential to honor these hard-working pups by dedicating the entire month of September to them.
Throughout the past decades, human beings have been suffering from different medical conditions that may interfere with their quality of life. Some of these ailments include blindness, autism, hearing issues, seizures, and mental disorders. Some conditions require humans to opt for physical assistance. However, as the world progressed, numerous researchers realized that an ailment does not have to affect one’s quality of life. Nor does it make a human being dependent on others. All they need is a well-trained service dog that will not only be their best friend, but also their biggest support. The purpose of service dogs is to provide companionship, protect, and serve their humans. To bring to light how important service dogs are, National Service Dog Month was formed in 2008.
The idea of this appreciation month was the brainchild of actor Dick Van Patten, who was awestruck by the tremendous help service dogs had given to humans with certain ailments. To further the cause, he also launched a fundraising initiative to benefit these dedicated pups who worked hard every day in service dog training schools. He also became an honorary board member of the Guide Dogs Of The Desert. This led to a chain reaction and gradually, fundraising efforts during National Service Dog Month were made across the U.S.
Service dogs are also protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Source - NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH (nationaltoday.com) <https://nationaltoday.com/national-service-dog-month/>
Mayor and Council History
This is the first time the Mayor and Council have proclaimed National Service Dog Day and Month.