Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick
Whereas America’s heroes and first-responders have been well served by search and rescue dogs, law enforcement and arson-detection dogs, and military dogs,
Whereas These dogs serve with loyalty and courage and risk their own lives to save human ones by detecting bombs and other explosives; and
Whereas Service dogs trained to help the blind, the hearing impaired, the handicapped, or people with medical conditions have worked tirelessly and obediently to support their owners; and
Whereas Some of America’s pet dogs – though untrained in special skills- have performed extraordinary acts of kindness, comfort, or service in innovative roles including comforting children hospitalized with cancer, the elderly in nursing homes, and veterans suffering PTSD; and
Whereas On this day we pay tribute to the contributions made by America’s dogs and to honor the many dogs that have served alongside our men and women in uniform,
Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim October 6th, 2012 to be,
HERO DOG DAY
And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this twenty-fifth day of September, in the year two thousand and twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
By His Excellency
Deval L. Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts