HR 9055

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recognizing Southeastern Guide Dogs for its
3	many years of exemplary selfless service to the State of
4	Florida.
5
6	WHEREAS, Southeastern Guide Dogs is a nonprofit
7	organization whose mission is to create and nurture a
8	partnership between a visually impaired individual and a guide
9	dog, facilitating life's journey with mobility, independence,
10	and dignity, and
11	WHEREAS, since 1982, Southeastern Guide Dogs has partnered
12	more than 830 visually impaired individuals and guide dogs,
13	including more than 344 partnerships in Florida, and anticipates
14	an additional 70 guide dog graduates this fiscal year, and
15	WHEREAS, Southeastern Guide Dogs is accredited by the
16	International Guide Dog Federation in Reading, England, and is a
17	member of the United States Council of Dog Guide Schools, and
18	WHEREAS, the Southeastern Guide Dogs Gifted Canines program
19	provides law enforcement agencies, hospitals, assisted living
20	facilities, nursing homes, schools, and individuals with special
21	needs with dogs who excel in narcotic or arson detection, search
22	and rescue, therapy, and other specialized careers, and
23	WHEREAS, the Southeastern Guide Dogs Paws for Patriots
24	program provides professionally trained guide dogs, in addition
25	to certified instructors who provide 26 days of individualized,
26	residential instruction and a lifetime of followup and support,
27	to visually impaired military veterans, and
28	WHEREAS, with the assistance of more than 500 volunteers,
29	including 200 active puppy raisers, 100 breeder host families,
30	and 240 onsite volunteers, Southeastern Guide Dogs currently
31	employs more than 70 individuals, including 12 trainers, and
32	WHEREAS, Southeastern Guide Dogs maintains service areas
33	for first-time students in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
34	Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
35	South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, NOW, THEREFORE,
36
37	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
38	Florida:
39
40	That the House of Representatives recognizes Southeastern
41	Guide Dogs for its many years of exemplary selfless service to
42	the State of Florida.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.