PRINTER'S NO. 1787
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
329
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY FARRY, BIZZARRO, SONNEY, KORTZ, KENYATTA,
SCHLOSSBERG, SCHMITT, MILLARD, DiGIROLAMO, MEHAFFIE, BURNS,
SCHLEGEL CULVER, HILL-EVANS, LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE, WILLIAMS,
HELM, NEILSON, READSHAW, MARSHALL, SAINATO, ZIMMERMAN AND
CALTAGIRONE, MAY 13, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 13, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating May 15, 2019, as "Pennsylvania Arson Dogs
Appreciation Day" in Pennsylvania and honoring all fire and
law enforcement investigative agencies for their dedicated
and tireless service.
WHEREAS, The National Fire Protection Association estimates
31,000 intentionally set structure and vehicle fires occurred in
2017, resulting in a combined 280 civilian deaths and a total of
$657 million in property damage; and
WHEREAS, According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
there were 33,660 arson cases reported with an average dollar
loss of $15,572 per incident in 2017; and
WHEREAS, An accelerant detection canine, also known as an
arson dog, is a dog trained to sniff out minute traces of
accelerants that may have been used to start a fire; and
WHEREAS, Arson dogs go through extensive training before
becoming certified accelerant detection canines; and
WHEREAS, Each arson dog is part of a team that is comprised
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
of the canine and its handler, a law enforcement officer trained
to investigate fire scenes; and
WHEREAS, Not only are these teams trained to investigate the
causes of fires, they are responsible for providing community
outreach programs and educational seminars on fire prevention
and safety; and
WHEREAS, An arson dog saves time and money by using fewer but
more accurate evidence samples, reducing expenditures at the
lab, speeding up investigations and providing a higher
conviction rate; and
WHEREAS, Arson dogs can smell more than 100 times better than
humans and are trained to sniff out more than 60 ignitable
petroleum-based hydrocarbons; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives pays tribute to the
contribution arson dogs make to fire departments, law
enforcement agencies and communities in the conduct of public
service and safety missions; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May 15,
2019, as "Pennsylvania Arson Dogs Appreciation Day" in
Pennsylvania and honor all fire and law enforcement
investigative agencies for their dedicated and tireless service.
20190HR0329PN1787 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21