Paws For Veterans Therapy Act: PIJAC Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alexandria, Va. – The following statement can be attributed to PIJAC President and CEO Mike Bober:
“The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) praises President Biden for signing H.R. 1448, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, into law yesterday, and commends the dedication of the Members of Congress who championed this critical bill, including Senators Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), Thom Tillis (NC), Kevin Cramer (ND), and Maggie Hassan (NH), and Representatives Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), and former Representative Steve Stivers (OH-15).
The scientifically proven emotional and physical health benefits of the human-animal bond can be even more significant when supporting veterans coping with the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By expanding the availability of service dogs to include those with mental illnesses and providing for canine training as part of veteran health programs, we anticipate that this law will have a substantial positive impact on the health and well-being of suffering military personnel, and even help mitigate veteran suicides. The responsible pet care community is dedicated to advancing opportunities for people to experience the human-animal bond, and we stand ready to assist veterans as they partner with, train and care for their new canine companions.”
About PIJAC: Founded in 1971, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) represents the experience and expertise of the responsible pet care community to legislative, regulatory, and governing bodies in order to promote animal well-being and responsible pet ownership, foster environmental stewardship, and ensure the availability of healthy pets. PIJAC members include retailers, companion animal suppliers, manufacturers, wholesale distributors, manufacturers’ representatives, pet hobbyists, and other trade organizations. www.pijac.org