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Therapy dogs to be available in Fayette court

By Mark Hofmann mhofmann@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard

Frank and Jan Mallak of Export along with their therapy dog “LiLi” sit in the hallway of the Fayette County Courthouse during dependency court. Lili helps children going through child welfare court proceedings. The volunteer service through the Westmoreland County Obedience Training Club officially started this month.

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Mark Hofmann | Herald-Standard

“LiLi,” a 3-year-old yellow lab, sits in the hallway of the Fayette County Courthouse during dependency court as a comfort dog available for children going through the court system. The volunteer service through the Westmoreland County Obedience Training Club officially started this month.

A courtroom, said Fayette County Judge Linda Cordaro, can be a scary, upsetting place for children.

Youngsters going through dependency hearings — where a judge has to determine whether they are being properly cared for — are already vulnerable.

Cordaro and Judge Nancy D. Vernon, who oversee these hearings in Fayette County, wanted to find a way to make the proceedings less traumatic, and officially instituted a therapy dog program this month.

“Comfort dogs are being used more and more in courtroom settings, particularly in those court proceedings that involve children,” Cordaro said. “The implementation of this program is intended to minimize stress and comfort the children who come into dependency court.”

“I think it’s a great program that’s used throughout the state now,” Vernon said. “The therapy dogs will provide the children with a much-needed diversion at at time that they’re going through a stressful situation.”

The idea of using registered therapy dogs for their “Court Comfort Dog” program is not a new one. Cordaro said she and Vernon have spoken with other judges throughout the state that have similar programs.

The therapy dogs are part of the Thera-Paws Program through the Westmoreland County Obedience Training Club (WCOTC) in Delmont.

Cordaro said a team in the program consists of a dog and the dog’s handler, including Rottweiler “Josey” and her handler Hollee Russell.

Russell, the WCOTC therapy dog chairwoman, said they’ve been very active with the dogs in the past few years in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, especially working with grief counselors in 2014 following the Franklin Regional High School mass stabbing incident where a student injured 20 students and one security guard.

Russell said she was put in touch with Cordaro through a mutual contact and started developing a program to bring the dogs into the courtroom, a new experience for both organizations. Fayette’s use of the dogs in court is the first in the area.

Cordaro said the first test of the program came during dependency hearings on Nov. 13. The dog was not only well-received by children, but also adult court personnel who were grieving the loss of a colleague.

Mary C. Spegar, an assistant public defender and Children and Youth Services attorney for the county, was killed in a house fire the day before. She represented children as a guardian ad litem in dependency hearings.

“The entire courthouse was extremely shocked and saddened by Mary’s death, and Josie was a comfort to many of us on Monday morning when she came into court, dressed in her tutu and headpiece,” Cordaro said.

“People really open up, they respond to the dogs,” Russell said, adding that many times the dogs will sense that people are feeling down and will approach them and give them comfort. “Dogs don’t judge.”

Russell also said she has seen firsthand how the registered therapy dogs have helped children whether by giving students confidence as they read to the dogs at school or, in the case of the school stabbing, watching them whisper to the dogs about their feelings and then go on their way.

Starting this month, Russell said they will now have between one and two teams at the courthouse for the four days of dependency court monthly.

Cordaro said she was told that nine teams have expressed interest in participating with breeds including a Chihuahua, German shepherd, yellow Labrador and mixed breeds. All of the dogs are registered through Alliance of Therapy Dogs, meaning they’re insured and extremely calm and well trained.

Because the handlers volunteer their time, the program comes at no cost to the county.

“We’re super excited about this opportunity,” Russell said. “I think Judge Cordaro really wants to do what’s right for the kids and the families involved in dependency court.”

Beginning in January, all jurors summoned for jury duty will have the option to donate their daily juror stipend to help support the program.

“Of course, this will be entirely voluntary, and any money received will go directly to support the non-profit organization through which the dogs are registered,” Cordaro said. The program was approved by President Judge John F. Wagner Jr., CYS Director Gina D’Auria and all three county commissioners. “In addition, there will be books purchased for the children to read to the dogs, and we’ll be able to provide dog treats and dog food, and travel expenses for the handlers.”

“I think this will make a huge difference and other counties will want to do this,” Russell said, adding that the volunteers with the WCOTC are open to new and different avenues for their services.

Anyone interested in contacting Russell about therapy dog services can do so by e-mail at wcotctherapaws@gmail.com

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