PORTLAND, Ore. — Volunteers from DoveLewis Animal Hospital are setting up for success by bringing therapy dogs into the courtroom, a service Kathy Wentworth has provided for a decade.
“We are very passionate about helping people in difficult situations within the court system, whether they are young people, children or adults,” said Wentworth, part of the DoveLewis Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams.
Comprehensive training for this initiative was led by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, which has a program specifically for assisting individuals defined by law as victims.
“Testifying in a courtroom is extremely traumatizing and stressful for a victim,” said Deputy District Attorney Chris Rothfus. “Having a therapy dog can help reduce that stress level.”
This comfort ultimately lends to a more effective trial.
“It’s found to be very effective in helping victims communicate and manage their emotions,” Rothfus added.
The event, held at the Portland Police Training Division, featured a judge and victim advocates demonstrating the process before, during and after a victim testifies.
The DoveLewis therapy teams volunteer across Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties, contributing over 4,000 hours in 2023 and aiming for more this year. They stand with victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking and at-risk youth.
Kathy Lotter from the team remarked, “An animal that is not asking questions provides no judgment, allowing victims a moment to collect themselves and, in some cases, helps build their confidence.”