March 13 is Now Canine Veterans Day in NH

Can we get a woof, woof?

March 13, from this day forward, will now be known as Canine Veterans Day in New Hampshire, thanks to a new bill signed by Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, on Aug. 22.

A bill signing ceremony for HB 1451, an act establishing a canine veterans day, was held at the Statehouse with a number of feisty hounds in attendance, howling affirmations about the bill.

The bill’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Katherine Roger, D-Concord, noted that it was a bipartisan effort to acknowledge the service of dogs that have assisted in war actions around the world and police actions here at home.

Co-sponsors included state Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Londonderry, state Rep. Lynne Ober, R-Hudson, state Rep. Robert Theberge, D-Berlin, state Rep. Donald LeBrun, R-Nashua, state Rep. Maureen Mann, D-Deerfield, state Rep. Linda Massimilla, D-Littleton, and state Rep. Skip Rollins, Newport.

Rogers stated that it was her pug, Vito Corleone, that suggested that she create the bill to honor his heroes.

“The passage of this bill assures that New Hampshire will forever, honor the service given by these dogs, each and every day and night,” she said. “They serve the people of this country.”

Before Hassan spoke, dogs starting barking and she noted that it was one of the risks of holding a signing outside. She stated that dogs have been instrumental in improving the safety of humans.

“We don’t always know it,” she said, “but Granite Staters rely on K-9 service dogs in all aspects of our lives. And these military and law enforcement and fire safety dogs, in particular, deserve to be recognized … they help us … they go into very dangerous situations and they save lives and they protect our freedoms.”

New Hampshire joins 11 other states around the country with canine veterans days on March 13, the official birthday of the United States K9 Corps (1942). There have also been bills in Congress to recognize the date nationally.