Dear Senate Majority Leader Pileggi,
As a Pennsylvanian and advocate for animals, I respectfully ask you to bring up Senate Bill 862 for a vote prior to the summer recess.
Therapy dogs are often used in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools to provide comfort and affection. But where state law allows guide dogs and service dogs on public trains and buses, it does not extend that same right to therapy dogs.
Handlers of therapy dogs say this ban is burdensome and particularly so in cities where traveling by car is more difficult and expensive than traveling by bus or train. The unfortunate result is that the therapy-dogs’ handlers – who are typically volunteers – forgo their visits, thus depriving our friends, relatives, parents and other loved ones of the wonderful companionship and affection therapy dogs provide.
Senator Dinniman’s Senate Bill 862 would allow therapy dogs that are properly harnessed to ride on all forms of public transportation at no charge.
Please bring Senate Bill 862 for a vote in order to extend therapy dogs and their handlers the same rights to public transportation that service dogs and their handlers currently possess. Thank you for your kind attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
Dear Senator Corman,
As a Pennsylvanian and advocate for animals, I respectfully ask you to bring up Senate Bill 862 for a vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee so that the bill can be voted on by the full Senate prior to the summer recess.
Therapy dogs are often used in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools to provide comfort and affection. But where state law allows guide dogs and service dogs on public trains and buses, it does not extend that same right to therapy dogs.
Handlers of therapy dogs say this ban is burdensome and particularly so in cities where traveling by car is more difficult and expensive than traveling by bus or train. The unfortunate result is that the therapy-dogs’ handlers – who are typically volunteers – forgoe their visits, thus depriving our friends, relatives, parents and other loved ones of the wonderful companionship and affection therapy dogs provide.
Senator Dinniman’s Senate Bill 862 would allow therapy dogs that are properly harnessed to ride on all forms of public transportation at no charge.
Please schedule Senate Bill 862 for a vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee in order to extend therapy dogs and their handlers the same rights to public transportation that service dogs and their handlers currently possess. Thank you for your kind attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)