September 2025: National Service Dog Month

WHEREAS, we believe in the joyful, transformative power of the human-canine bond and inclusivity of all citizens; and,

WHEREAS, less than 1% of Americans living with disabilities have access to a service dog, due to barriers such as cost, availability, and training capacity;

WHEREAS, many service dogs are trained and placed through accredited nonprofit programs such as Canine Companions, which created the concept of service dogs for people with physical disabilities 50 years ago in 1975, creating a new kind of support for disabilities; and,

WHEREAS, Canine Companions is a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships, free of charge; and,

WHEREAS, Canine Companions and their 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 their handlers; and, 

WHEREAS, although professional training programs help prepare many dogs to become service dogs, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are recognized and protected regardless of how they are trained; and,

WHEREAS, the state of Michigan continues to work toward becoming an inclusive community in which all citizens, and their trained service dogs, are embraced; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 2025 as National Service Dog Month in Michigan.