Entering the court system can be an incredibly stressful experience, whether you're a plaintiff, defendant, or witness. The emotional strain is heightened by the often tragic and traumatic events that bring people to court. That’s why mental and emotional support, especially for children, is essential in such high-stress environments.
Thankfully, animals have been shown to provide stress relief and comfort, and their presence in places like courtrooms is becoming more common.
While other counties have had unofficial support dogs, Aroostook County will be the first in Maine to have an official therapy dog at the courthouse, according to Bangor Daily News. Meet Holiday, a yellow Labrador retriever puppy in training to provide emotional support to those who have experienced trauma.
Holiday was generously donated by local breeder Karley Allen, who is passionate about donating puppies for therapy and service work. “I believe wholeheartedly in the power of a dog,” Allen shared. “They are truly heart healers that give endless love and can give so much back to our communities when placed in these roles.”
It will take two years and 208 hours of training for Holiday to complete her training. She will learn essential skills, including remaining still and silent in the courtroom, following commands, and staying seated for long periods of time. Holiday will also accompany the district attorney on investigations, offering comfort to those affected by trauma.
Holiday currently lives with Aroostook County District Attorney Todd Collins, who is working alongside her to ensure she can respond to his commands. Collins explained to the Daily News that his goal is to help survivors and witnesses, especially children and vulnerable victims, manage the stress and psychological effects of reliving traumatic experiences in court.
“Courthouse facility dogs can provide a sense of normalcy during juvenile and family court proceedings,” Collins said. “They can also offer emotional comfort to family members during trials and sentencing.”
The use of courthouse therapy dogs, like Holiday, has gained momentum in recent years. Superior Court Judge Jeanette Dalton from Kitsap County, Washington, shared with PEW that the yellow lab in her courtroom has helped child witnesses testify with greater ease.
“Sometimes they need the leash in their hand. Sometimes they need the dog touching their feet. Sometimes they just need to see the dog,” Dalton said.
Concerns have been raised about the potential influence dogs could have on juries, but Dalton has witnessed firsthand how therapy dogs help witnesses remain calm, creating a less emotionally charged atmosphere for everyone involved.
“I’ve seen jurors visibly impacted by kids so stressed on the witness stand that they start crying or shut down. Jurors look like they want to leap over the jury box and cuddle that kid,” she said. “Having the dog there helps everybody on both sides.”
Collins also emphasized that trauma isn't limited to witnesses. First responders, detectives, and others who regularly work with victims of violent crime also need emotional support, and a trained therapy dog can be a source of comfort for them too.
Watch Holiday begin her training and see her potential to bring comfort to all those in need.