Monday, February 22, 2010

Courthouse Dogs

Yesterday we posted on Zoey, the grief therapy dog at a funeral home. Today we want to bring you another type of therapy dog -- courthouse dogs.

From the website:

A courthouse setting can be an intimidating place for most people who enter the building to participate in criminal or family court matters. However the presence of a well-trained dog that provides emotional support by offering a soft head to stroke can make the experience a less stressful one.

Since 2003 courthouse dogs have provided comfort to children who have been sexually abused while they undergo forensic interviews and testify in court. The dogs also assist drug court participants in their recovery, visit juveniles in detention facilities, greet jurors and in general lift the spirits of courthouse staff who often conduct their business in an adversarial setting.

In the King County Bar Bulletin, Superior Court Judge Wesley Saint Clair, who has had the experience of a facility dog assisting two witnesses during a trial and providing companionship to everyone in the drug court setting, stated that he “finds that the dog's presence dissipates tension for everyone when dealing with difficult issues and provides a sense of normalcy.

You can read the rest of this and find more information at CourthouseDogs.

We think it's terrific that humans are finding we furries are not just flea buffets but flesh and blood comforters. There are entire blogs dedicated to therapy dogs. And we know a few therapy cats in the Cat Blogosphere.

So, if all these dogs and cats can be therapy animals, why won't Jan let us do therapy on her toe? Does she have something against furry therapy?

We added a new design to our Zazzle store for mugs, cards, misc. items.

22 comments:

  1. That's a great idea - dogs are the perfect thing to ease stress!

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  2. That sounds wonderful! We've never heard of courthouse dogs before!

    The new design looks great!

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  3. The new design is lovely.

    We are not sure why Jan is so opposed to toe therapy. ~AFSS

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  4. We thoughts of a cute slogan for you doggies, probably the cats too.

    Jan says
    Stay off the TOES!!!!!!

    We are being silly. ~AFSS

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  5. We'd never heard of courthouse dogs before, it's a brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing.

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  6. wow that's remarkable. What a pawsome idea. I wonder if they have courthouse cats too :).

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  7. i do not know why i was in such a bad place, but i sure am glad i will never go there again! i can not believe how many pups and kittehs live on your funny farm. it must really be funny all the time. all you guys are just bee-yoo-tiful! especially miss cyndi, because she looks like a peanut butter cup with a bit of whipped cream on, and that is a combination of my mommy's favorite dessert and mine. i am reading through a great big bunch of your past bloggie entries and i have to tell you that i can not stop meowing over them!

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  8. What a wonderful idea :)

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  9. Maximus Spittimus advises that he therapeutically eats anything edible and many things that really shouldn't be.


    Four Dinners
    Aide de Camp
    http://maximusspittimus.blogspot.com

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  10. I think that is an excellent idea! The toe therapy is too but you know humans--always have to have it their way!

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  11. We think all cats and dogs are therapy for their owners. My mom thinks we are!
    --JB

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  12. Animals are unconditional love and great comfort=they are priceless!!...xo...Calle, Halle, Sukki

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  13. Critters are helpful everywhere!

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  14. This is awesome. I n have never heard of Courthouse Dogs before, but it makes so much sense! :)

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  15. We loved the Buddy & Sam Olympic photo of napping. Priceless!!!

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  16. OUR talents are endless!

    Thanks fur sharing!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  17. Courthouse doggies! Great. We haven't heard of this before either.
    Great new design too!

    Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
    Sierra Rose

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  18. Ha that is very interesting. Mom used to work in a juvenile detention center. It would be a benefit for those who attend court. They would be a stress reliever too for the staff when interviewing the detainees upon arrival too.
    norwood

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  19. hello jan its dennis the vizsla dog hay hmmm i dont no i hav ben in the korthowse sinse last week and i am stil stressd owt!!! ok bye

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  20. that's a pawesome idea! we's proud to know that more beans is wakin' up to the idea that we 4-leggers are somethin' more than lap-warmers. (although we are unarguably good at that, too.)

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  21. This is something I have never heard of before. This is a great idea.

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  22. Hey JFF Gang,
    A very enlightening post indeed. As far as Jan allowing y'all to provide therapy for her toe, we think that's akin to the proverbial having the fox guard the hen house situation. In all likelihood, y'all providing therapy will result in re-injury, or perhaps greater injury, thus causing y'all to need to continue or increase your therapeutic efforts.
    - TBH&K

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