"Therapy dogs" to keep kids company during prosecution interview - WDRB 41 Louisville - News, Weather, Sports Community

"Therapy dogs" to keep kids company during prosecution interviews

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Children who are witnesses of or victims to crimes have new friends to help them through the justice system.

Prosecutors and victim advocates will now have access to about 10 trained dogs who can sit with juvenile victims and witnesses during interviews. The therapy dogs are part of a partnership through the Commonwealth's Attorneys Office and WAGS - Wonderful Animals Giving Support.

"This whole process is a stressful environment for someone who is not used to it," said Josh Schneider, an assistant commonwealth attorney. "So anytime we can have something like this, and act as a calming influence, I think it makes everybody a little happier and a little calmer."

Therapy dogs have been used successfully in other states.

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    Thanks to a grant from Norton Healthcare, this story and others are available in real-time closed captioning on WDRB.