Portsmouth proclaims September Service Dog Awareness Month

PORTSMOUTH—At the City Council meeting on Aug. 18, Mayor Deaglan McEachern declared September as Service Dog Awareness month and Brendan Madden, founder of the New Hampshire Coalition for the Support of Service Dogs, had the honor to accept it!

Whereas: September is National Service Dog Month, created to raise awareness and show appreciation for the extraordinary work carefully trained and certified service dogs do every day for the people in their care, to honor the dedicated individuals who train and care for these remarkable animals, and to celebrate the profound bond between service dogs and the individuals they serve; and

Whereas: Service dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. They can be trained to retrieve objects, assist with balance, give seizure or diabetic alerts, or assist those with psychiatric disabilities. They also serve veterans suffering from conditions including Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury allowing their humans to better manage their disabilities and live fuller lives; and

Whereas: These special dogs exemplify the amazing healing power of the human-animal bond. In addition to their skills, research shows that canine companions can provide physical benefits by increasing physical activity to improve cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol and decrease blood pressure while offering support and a sense of calm to balance the emotional and psychological stresses of daily life; and

Whereas: There are more than half a million service dogs in America working on behalf of their companions and their communities while more than 12 percent of the entire US population and more than 10 percent of our Portsmouth residents cope with some type of disability on a daily basis; and

Whereas: The City of Portsmouth recognizes the profound impact that service dogs have on the lives of adults and children with disabilities thanks to their unique ability to enhance the independence, mobility, and overall quality of life, opening doors for those they serve.

Now, therefore, I, Deaglan McEachern, Mayor of the City of Portsmouth, on behalf of the members of the City Council and the citizens of Portsmouth, do hereby proclaim September as National Service Dog Month in Portsmouth and call upon our residents and businesses to recognize and respect the important job they do in helping us live up to our motto of The City of the Open Door.

Given with my hand and the Seal of the City of Portsmouth,

(signed)
Deaglan McEachern, Mayor of Portsmouth