District Attorney's investigator Ryan McGuirk is speaking gently to Odile, a 2½-year-old black Labrador-golden retriever mix.
And as soon he speaks, Odie — as the dog is more affectionately known — rests its head in the lap of victims' advocate Alma Sanchez. And stays there, allowing all the petting Sanchez is willing to bestow.
This is a demonstration for reporters gathered Wednesday in the victims' unit of the Monterey County District Attorney's Office. It's a comfortable space, furnished with soft couches, toys and children's books.
Normally, Odie's head would be in the lap of a crime victim or a nervous witness. People who come to the office at "the worst time of their lives," as McGuirk puts it.
Odie, he says, "takes that person away from tragedy."
Odie is a highly trained "courthouse dog," a newer variation on the expanding roles of service dogs throughout the country. First used in 2003, the animals are now fixtures in more than 50 courthouses around the United States.
Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo says he first heard about courthouse dogs two years ago at a national prosecutors' conference.
"It was amazing to see the calming affect" the dogs have on victims, Flippo says. "People who don't want to be here. It is stressful. It is difficult."
After a lengthy application process, McGuirk was sent last month to Santa Rosa's Canine Companions for Independence for a two-week training session with his new co-worker.
Because Odie lives with McGuirk, he and his family went through an extensive background check before he could be approved as the dog's handler.
Around three weeks ago, Odie was brought to Monterey County, where she spends more than 40 hours a week on the job, McGuirk says.
But aside from her demonstration in Alma Sanchez's lap, Odie isn't allowed to socialize in the office.
"The staff all wanted to pet her at first," says Pam Patterson, who heads the office's victims' unit. But they've had to learn to let Odie save her affection for those who need it.
"My focus is on the victims," McGuirk says. "It's not to have an office pet."
He did, however, let Odie show off one neat trick sure to illicit giggles from any kid — turning the thick cardboard pages of a children's book with her nose.
Sanchez says Odie has already made "a remarkable difference."
When a young crime victim and her mother met Odie, the mother exclaimed, "She just warms my heart," Sanchez says. "They were ready to go to court. They were much more calm."
Besides comforting victims during interviews, Flippo says he'll consider bringing Odie into the courtroom to accompany especially tense witnesses.
It's a sometimes controversial practice that's been upheld in some jurisdictions, including courts in New York, Washington and San Diego County.
Brittany Milkowski of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan suggests that most pet therapy dogs don't have the specialized training a courtroom requires, so it's important the dogs be prepared for this work.
In addition, Milkowski writes, "courthouse dogs should be available to anyone who requires support when testifying in the courtroom. This includes the defendants and/or their witnesses."
According to Courthouse Dogs — which says it trains legal professionals, not dogs — the animals should be made available to anyone who needs them in the criminal justice setting.
Flippo says that in Seattle's courthouse, a dog and handler often stand in the lobby, available to calm the nerves of anyone who enters.
"People start to mellow out," he says.
Odie comes at no cost to Monterey County except for her food and occasional vet bills, says Flippo.
Like other courthouse dogs, Odie has been trained for service since it was a puppy. Odie was raised until it was 18 months old by a Florida family that's bred more than 10 similar dogs, donating them as soon as they are old enough for training and service.
After Florida, Odie underwent months of training in CCI's Santa Rosa facility, built with donations from the late Peanut comic strip creator Charles Schulz.
It's where dogs learn the tricks of the service trade, such as learning to flip on light switches or push drawers shut. Altogether, the investment in a service dog's training can run between $25,000 and $50,000, McGuirk says.
Some are steered toward work with disabled kids. But McGuirk says that Odie, with its small stature and innate calm, was a natural for the courthouse gig.
Living at his home with two small children, Odie stays unflappable even through the inevitable ear pulling or tail stepping.
"I've never had to correct her or raise my voice," McGuirk says with pride.
"She is truly ...
He pauses to come up with just the right word.
"Unbreakable," he says, finally.
Julia Reynolds can be reached at 648-1187 or jreynolds@montereyherald.com.
www.montereyherald.com/localnews/ci_24615936/salinas-courthouse-dog-helps-calm-victims-witnesses
And as soon he speaks, Odie — as the dog is more affectionately known — rests its head in the lap of victims' advocate Alma Sanchez. And stays there, allowing all the petting Sanchez is willing to bestow.
This is a demonstration for reporters gathered Wednesday in the victims' unit of the Monterey County District Attorney's Office. It's a comfortable space, furnished with soft couches, toys and children's books.
Normally, Odie's head would be in the lap of a crime victim or a nervous witness. People who come to the office at "the worst time of their lives," as McGuirk puts it.
Odie, he says, "takes that person away from tragedy."
Odie is a highly trained "courthouse dog," a newer variation on the expanding roles of service dogs throughout the country. First used in 2003, the animals are now fixtures in more than 50 courthouses around the United States.
Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo says he first heard about courthouse dogs two years ago at a national prosecutors' conference.
"It was amazing to see the calming affect" the dogs have on victims, Flippo says. "People who don't want to be here. It is stressful. It is difficult."
After a lengthy application process, McGuirk was sent last month to Santa Rosa's Canine Companions for Independence for a two-week training session with his new co-worker.
Because Odie lives with McGuirk, he and his family went through an extensive background check before he could be approved as the dog's handler.
Around three weeks ago, Odie was brought to Monterey County, where she spends more than 40 hours a week on the job, McGuirk says.
But aside from her demonstration in Alma Sanchez's lap, Odie isn't allowed to socialize in the office.
"The staff all wanted to pet her at first," says Pam Patterson, who heads the office's victims' unit. But they've had to learn to let Odie save her affection for those who need it.
"My focus is on the victims," McGuirk says. "It's not to have an office pet."
He did, however, let Odie show off one neat trick sure to illicit giggles from any kid — turning the thick cardboard pages of a children's book with her nose.
Sanchez says Odie has already made "a remarkable difference."
When a young crime victim and her mother met Odie, the mother exclaimed, "She just warms my heart," Sanchez says. "They were ready to go to court. They were much more calm."
Besides comforting victims during interviews, Flippo says he'll consider bringing Odie into the courtroom to accompany especially tense witnesses.
It's a sometimes controversial practice that's been upheld in some jurisdictions, including courts in New York, Washington and San Diego County.
Brittany Milkowski of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan suggests that most pet therapy dogs don't have the specialized training a courtroom requires, so it's important the dogs be prepared for this work.
In addition, Milkowski writes, "courthouse dogs should be available to anyone who requires support when testifying in the courtroom. This includes the defendants and/or their witnesses."
According to Courthouse Dogs — which says it trains legal professionals, not dogs — the animals should be made available to anyone who needs them in the criminal justice setting.
Flippo says that in Seattle's courthouse, a dog and handler often stand in the lobby, available to calm the nerves of anyone who enters.
"People start to mellow out," he says.
Odie comes at no cost to Monterey County except for her food and occasional vet bills, says Flippo.
Like other courthouse dogs, Odie has been trained for service since it was a puppy. Odie was raised until it was 18 months old by a Florida family that's bred more than 10 similar dogs, donating them as soon as they are old enough for training and service.
After Florida, Odie underwent months of training in CCI's Santa Rosa facility, built with donations from the late Peanut comic strip creator Charles Schulz.
It's where dogs learn the tricks of the service trade, such as learning to flip on light switches or push drawers shut. Altogether, the investment in a service dog's training can run between $25,000 and $50,000, McGuirk says.
Some are steered toward work with disabled kids. But McGuirk says that Odie, with its small stature and innate calm, was a natural for the courthouse gig.
Living at his home with two small children, Odie stays unflappable even through the inevitable ear pulling or tail stepping.
"I've never had to correct her or raise my voice," McGuirk says with pride.
"She is truly ...
He pauses to come up with just the right word.
"Unbreakable," he says, finally.
Julia Reynolds can be reached at 648-1187 or jreynolds@montereyherald.com.
www.montereyherald.com/localnews/ci_24615936/salinas-courthouse-dog-helps-calm-victims-witnesses
Show Konversi KodeHide Konversi Kode Show EmoticonHide Emoticon