Gimme a kiss: Therapy dogs lift spirits while visiting legislators and their aides

Erin Dunyon, an intern for Rep. Jefferson Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, gets a kiss from Penny, a therapy dog, at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Erin Dunyon, an intern for Rep. Jefferson Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, gets a kiss from Penny, a therapy dog, at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday. The therapy dogs and their handlers from Pet Partners were at the Capitol to educate lawmakers about the difference between service dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support dogs. Service dogs are trained to help people with disabilities, while therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and affection to people in hospice, disaster areas, retirement homes or hospitals. Emotional support dogs provide their owners therapeutic benefits through companionship. HJR006, a joint resolution sponsored by Rep. Marsha Judkins, R-Provo, recognizes the benefits of therapy animals and encourages organizations in Utah to welcome and engage with therapy animals. On Thursday, the House Health and Human Services Committee gave the resolution a favorable recommendation.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2OAr5dc