[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 200 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF FAIRFAX PETS ON WHEELS

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 22, 2022

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 35th 
Anniversary of the Fairfax Pets on Wheels program. This program aims to 
bring joy to our long term assisted living residents through therapy 
pet visits.
  Since 1987, all-volunteer Fairfax Pets on Wheels (FPOW) has been 
licking loneliness by carrying out their mission to provide 
companionship and improved quality of life to residents of Fairfax area 
nursing homes and assisted living facilities through regular pet 
visitation by trained volunteers and their approved pets.
  Sponsored by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and approved by the 
American Kennel Club as a therapy dog group, FPOW's trained people and 
pet teams share the power of the human-animal bond through thousands of 
hours of pet therapy visits every year. They have facilitated pet 
visitations through a network of more than 300 volunteers, and 
currently provide visitation to residents in ten facilities. Their 
dedicated volunteers donated over 8,000 hours of pet visitation just 
last year.
  Pet visitation is proven to have a calming effect. Regular visits by 
volunteer and pet teams help reduce anxiety, relieve depression, lower 
blood pressure, encourage communication, and increase socialization. 
Touching animals helps chase away loneliness and withdrawal and 
encourages a meaningful connection to happier times.
  Throughout the pandemic, many of us have had to isolate to keep our 
communities safe, and this left many older adults without social 
interaction or company. We were seeing this take a toll on the mental 
and physical health of our senior population as they were forced to 
quarantine for weeks on end. As we are starting to return to normalcy, 
the visits from furry friends are a great way for our elderly community 
to lift their spirits.
  FPOW volunteers and their pet partners make a difference every day by 
sharing the unconditional love of a pet to help improve someone's life. 
In return, human volunteers get to spend more time with their pets and 
make new friends.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the 
Fairfax Pets on Wheels program. Volunteers of this organization 
dedicate themselves to the senior residents of Fairfax County make sure 
that all residents, including some of the most vulnerable in our 
society, are being looked out for. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to 
this organization for their work to support our aging adults in this 
community.

                          ____________________