A RESOLUTION

 

1Designating March 13, 2014, as "K9 Veterans and Services Day" in
2Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Throughout the history of this Commonwealth and the
4nation, thousands of dogs and their handlers, trainers and other
5helpers have served in the military, law enforcement and various
6capacities with honor, dignity and valor to protect life,
7liberty and property; and

8WHEREAS, To this day, military and police and other working
9dogs and their handlers, trainers and other helpers continue to
10serve on both land and sea with honor, dignity and valor in this
11Commonwealth, the nation and abroad; and

12WHEREAS, The official United States K9 Corps was created on
13March 13, 1942, for service in World War II and beyond; and

1WHEREAS, Joseph J. White, a retired military working dog
2handler, began an effort some years ago to establish K9 Veterans
3Day on March 13 each year as a means to get the entire country
4to recognize the important services provided by dogs and their
5trainers, handlers and other helpers in the military, law
6enforcement and otherwise to save and protect human life; and

7WHEREAS, Many residents of this Commonwealth have and
8continue to actively participate in and engage in K9 training
9and operational activities to protect lives and property through
10the military, law enforcement and other groups; and

11WHEREAS, K9 Services now include dogs and their handlers,
12trainers and other helpers involved in customs, search and
13rescue, border patrol, police services, secret service, drug
14enforcement and many other capacities, all of which deserve
15recognition along with the military working dogs for saving and
16protecting our Commonwealth's and nation's way of life due to
17the current war on terror and efforts to stop and fight crime;
18and

19WHEREAS, The military, law enforcement and many other
20government agencies and groups have recognized K9 dogs as being
21loyal, loving, devoted and known for placing themselves in
22harm's way, to make the ultimate sacrifice and lay down their
23lives for their partners, handlers, trainers and other helpers;
24therefore be it

25RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
2613, 2014, as "K9 Veterans and Services Day" in Pennsylvania to
27acknowledge, support and express thanks for the assistance and
28security provided by dogs and their trainers, handlers and other
29helpers in the military, law enforcement and other services
30geared toward protecting life and property in this Commonwealth

1and the nation; and be it further

2RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
3governmental agencies and other groups that have and continue to
4use K9-type services to make efforts on March 13, 2014, to
5recognize and appreciate the protection and assistance that such
6services provide to this Commonwealth and the nation in so many
7ways.