MEDIA >> White-furred Frangelica gently panted as her caretaker Kathryn Meloni cradled her in her arms while officials outside the Delaware County courthouse announced how the docile pup would soon be put into action.
Frangelica and Meloni are one of eight pet therapy teams that will spend Tuesdays in the Juvenile Dependency Court and Wednesdays in the Juvenile Delinquency Court starting Sept. 20 and 21 as part of the Courthouse Companions program.
Partnering with Newark, Del.-based non-profit Paws for People, county officials signed a $1,000, 12-month contract to have the pets placed in the waiting rooms of these courts as a way to calm children and others in a courthouse environment.
“We want to make our courthouse as friendly an environment as possible for those residents and others coming to our courthouse whether that be everywhere from their jury experience to witnesses and children to the care for those with special needs such as our veterans, drug addicted people and others in the mental health system that affect our courts,” county Councilman John McBlain said.
Paws for People first providing therapy dogs in the court system of Cecil County, Md.
“There we were primarily working with the child advocacy centers and we were working with children one-on-one prior to them giving testimony in court,” Stephanie Barry, associate director of Paws for People, said. “The program expanded there to where we actually bring therapy dogs into the courtroom to help children calm themselves.”
Due to that program’s success, the organization expanded into the court system in Harford County, Md. In those cases, the dogs, or cats and rabbits, are in the courtroom. Here in Delaware County, the animals will be positioned in the waiting rooms of the two juvenile courts.
Barry explained how these specially trained and tested animals can be beneficial.
Children, older caregivers and anyone else who’s with them who might benefit from a nuzzle from a friendly therapy companion will have that opportunity here,” she said.
The animals will be with their handlers, both of whom will be clearly identified with Paws for People leashes and tags. They will not approach any children or adults. They will stay and children and others are welcome to approach them.
Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Nathaniel Nichols, who presides in Juvenile Court, expressed his wish for the program.
“Being involved in court proceedings can be very intimidating for anyone but especially for children,” he said. “I hope that these canine therapy teams will help children, their families and others involved in cases be calm and overcome their fears.”
The program in Delaware County will be overseen by Meloni, who has been a part of Paws for People for two years.
“During that time, I have witnessed amazing results stemming from the relationship between dogs and people,” Meloni said. “It is extremely rewarding and I believe that the Courthouse Companion program will be a huge success in the Delaware County court system.”
