SR568: SR568 Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's facility dogs and their Canines For Kids Program; recognize

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It honors Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the state's largest pediatric hospital system, for its Canines For Kids Program, which places trained facility dogs in hospitals to comfort and support young patients. The resolution describes the program's history, noting it began in 2009 as the first of its kind in the country, and that dogs go through 18 months of training before being paired with a hospital employee handler. It states that Children's Healthcare of Atlanta currently has 16 full-time facility dogs working at the Arthur M. Blank, Scottish Rite, and Hughes Spalding Hospitals and the Zalik Behavioral and Mental Health Center. The Senate resolves to formally recognize the program and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

• Formally recognizes Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Canines For Kids Program on behalf of the Georgia Senate.
• States that the program employs 16 full-time facility dogs across four Children's Healthcare of Atlanta facilities.
• Describes the 18-month training process facility dogs undergo before working with patients.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the program.
• Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial statement only.

The resolution directly names Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, its Canines For Kids Program, the employee handlers who manage the facility dogs, and the young patients and families served at the Arthur M. Blank, Scottish Rite, and Hughes Spalding Hospitals and the Zalik Behavioral and Mental Health Center.

Because this is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law, it does not change any rights, funding, or requirements. Its practical effect is limited to an official Senate acknowledgment sent to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta honoring the hospital system's dog therapy program.

• The whereas clauses describe the program's founding in 2009 as the first of its kind nationally and its purpose of helping patients cope, heal, and reach treatment goals.
• The whereas clauses state facility dogs complete an 18-month training process before being paired with a hospital employee handler.
• The whereas clauses report that Children's Healthcare of Atlanta employs 16 full-time facility dogs across four named facilities.
• The resolving clause has the Senate formally recognize the Canines For Kids Program.
• The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

1. 2026-01-14Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-01-13Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)

• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
• facility dogs
• pediatric care
• Senate resolution
• hospital programs