HAUPPAUGE, NY: At the Wednesday, September 6th, General Meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature, Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffery introduced and had passed a resolution designating September as “Service Dog and Guide Dog Month” in Suffolk County!
Introduced by Presiding Officer McCaffrey and Legislator Anker, the resolution serves to recognize National Service Dog Month, a month-long celebration honoring the hard work and life-changing impact service dogs make on people with disabilities every day.
As such, beginning in 2023 and continuing every year thereafter, September shall be designated as “Service Dog and Guide Dog Month” in Suffolk County to spread awareness as to how service dogs and guide dogs can help people suffering from different ailments and highlight all the good done by service dogs and guide dogs and their trainers.
Dogs have often been referred to as “man’s best friend” because of their loyalty and dedication; and guide dogs are the guiding eyes for people who are blind or visually impaired; and service dogs are assistance dogs for people with other disabilities such as, mobility impairment, autism, hearing impairment, diabetes, seizures, allergies and WHEREAS, service dogs and guide dogs provide companionship, protection and service to their humans.
As part of the announcement, Presiding Officer McCaffrey presented Guide Dog Foundation Chief Marketing Officer Mike Rosen and America’s VetDogs Program Graduates Nathan Gardiner and his companion, Kenzo, with a proclamation signed by all 17 sitting Legislators as a memento.
For more than 75 years, the Guide Dog Foundation has trained and placed guide dogs and service dogs to provide increased independence and enhanced mobility to individuals who are blind, have low vision, or other disabilities. Once the decision is made to get a guide dog, applicants become part of the Foundations' open and welcoming community and are supported with an uncompromising commitment to excellence, from highly empathetic and certified trainers, to a meticulously constructed curriculum. For more information, visit them at: https://www.guidedog.org/.
The service dog programs of America’s VetDogs® were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to United States veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities, allowing them to once again live with pride and self-reliance. Not only does a service dog provide support with daily activities, it provides the motivation to tackle every day challenges. VetDogs trains and places service dogs for those with physical disabilities; guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; service dogs to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder; and facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals. For more information, visit: https://www.vetdogs.org/.
The Suffolk County Legislature’s Presiding Officer, Legislator Kevin McCaffrey represents Suffolk County's 14th Legislative District, which encompasses the Villages of Lindenhurst and Babylon, the hamlets of West Babylon and North Lindenhurst, portions of Copiague, North Babylon, and Babylon's barrier beach communities.