a. Adopt proclamation for National Therapy Animal Day

From:Kaushagen, Taylor To:Kaushagen, Taylor Subject:FW: Proclamation Request - National Therapy Animal Day Date:Monday, February 27, 2023 9:19:24 AM -----Original Message----- From: Jennifer Johnson <doctor.jennifer.johnson@gmail.com>Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 11:00 AMTo: Wilson, Robert <WilsonRo@casscountynd.gov>Cc: Kasper, Jim <jkasper@nd.gov>; Roers Jones, Shannon <sroersjones@nd.gov>Subject: Proclamation Request - National Therapy Animal Day CAUTION: EXTERNAL EMAIL Robert Wilson, I’m writing today to introduce myself as one of your constituents and ask that you support a proclamation deemingApril 30 "National Therapy Animal Day." I’m an active member of our community and I also volunteer as a therapyanimal team with my Dog. Not every animal can be a therapy animal, but I am fortunate to volunteer with Duck andQuack through Pet Partners. We volunteer at NDSU Students Concordia College Students Fargo Public Library'sPaws for Reading Program. It is deeply gratifying volunteer work that we enjoy doing together. There is a growing body of research that demonstrates the wide variety of ways in which therapy animals can makea difference in our lives. They improve mental wellness by decreasing fear, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation. Theyalso influence our physical health, lowering perceived levels of pain, shortening recovery times, and eveninfluencing those who are ill to have a more positive outlook about their future. In addition to making us feel better,they can also help up learn by providing a source of motivation, stimulation and focus that has been shown to fosterreading abilities including fluency and comprehension. It would be wonderful if you could honor the therapy animal volunteers and their amazing animals by supporting aproclamation celebrating April 30 as "National Therapy Animal Day" in our community. I have provided somemodel language below. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Thank you, Jennifer JohnsonFargo, NDEmail Address: doctor.jennifer.johnson@gmail.com Phone Number: 7013886332 MODEL PROCLAMATION There are thousands of Pet Partners therapy animal teams serving in communities across the United States; and WHEREAS, Pet Partners has designated April 30 as National Therapy Animal Day; and WHEREAS, Pet Partners therapy animal teams in the Town of Fargo play an essential role in improving humanhealth and well-being through the human-animal bond; and WHEREAS, Pet Partners therapy animal teams make millions of visits per year in settings such as hospitals, nursinghomes, schools and hospice; and WHEREAS, Pet Partners therapy animal teams interact with a variety of people in our community includingveterans, seniors, patients, students facing literacy challenges, and those approaching end of life; and