Program Provides Canine Comfort To Witnesses, Victims On The Stand
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Dogs can be a comfort in many circumstances, but imagine being a witness to a crime and being able to get comfort from a canine while testifying.
A new program is bringing pups into the courtroom to help comfort witnesses on the stand.
Trainer Carol Davis says not every dog has the patience to be a court dog. Those canines might have to sit for hours at an adult or child's feet.
Those that make the cut, however, often make a huge difference, especially during such stressful moments.
"Sometimes it's very difficult to answer a question, and the child can bend down and stroke the dog's back, and by the time they lift their head up again, they've kind of composed themselves, and they give a better answer," Davis explains.
Courtroom comfort dogs are available for witnesses and victims who testify in court in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
