Tulare County proclaims National Therapy Animal Day and recognizes Mental Health Matters Month

VISALIA, Calif. ' The Tulare County Board of Supervisors recognized National Therapy Animal Day (April 30) and declared May 2025 Mental Health Matters Month during its April 30 meeting, honoring volunteer therapy animal teams and asking the community to support mental health awareness.

Pet Partners volunteer Tiana Bennett introduced the county's therapy animal program and described frequent visits to hospitals, rehabilitation centers and schools. "We visit Kaweah Health... Sequoia Regional... rehab... and Redwood High School," Bennett said, adding she has volunteered with Pet Partners for nearly 19 years and encouraged others with well-behaved animals to consider volunteering.

The board presented a proclamation recognizing the role therapy animals play in reducing stress and supporting recovery. Supervisors and program volunteers posed for photographs after the recognition.

The board also adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Mental Health Matters Month. Casey Ennis of the Health and Human Services Agency told the board: "Mental health is something we all have just like physical health... 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience a mental health condition in a given year." Ennis urged residents who are struggling to seek help and provided crisis resources including 988 and local crisis response teams.

The proclamation noted that early and effective treatment can enable recovery and called on residents, institutions and schools to recommit to awareness and accessible services. Supervisors praised county mental-health programs and said they would continue outreach activities during the month, including community events and a mental health night at Rawhide Stadium.