Governor Proclaims National Service Dog Month 2023

WHEREAS, service dog trainers and service dog organizations enhance the lives of people with disabilities, both visible and non-visible, by providing expertly-trained service dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships; and

WHEREAS, service dogs empower people with disabilities to lead life with greater independence, by providing best-in-class training, ongoing follow up services, and a deeply committed community of support; and

WHEREAS, National Service Dog Month aims to educate our community about the benefits of service dogs and the laws protecting them; and

WHEREAS, in the State of North Carolina, 1 in 3 adults have a disability, while only 16,000 service dogs from accredited training programs exist nationwide; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina continues to work toward becoming an inclusive community in which all residents, and their service dogs, are respected;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September, 2023, as “NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.