Studies have shown that the presence of a canine companion can have positive psychological and physiological effects on people during stressful situations, and other studies have validated the trained dogs in the legal setting.
It is no longer just Bunnings where you are likely to see a fury friend accompanying their owner at work. In Victoria, the government has decided to expand the Court Dog Program to allow the use of trained support dogs to provide comfort to vulnerable witnesses when waiting for Court or when giving evidence.
Studies have shown that the presence of a canine companion can have positive psychological and physiological effects on people during stressful situations, and other studies have validated the trained dogs in the legal setting. Feedback is already showing great results, with one young victim simply saying, “I’m special ‘cause I’ve got a dog”.
This is a positive step in helping the Courtroom become a more inclusive and supporting place, and we see no reason why such a program will not be rolled out nation wide.
At Vitalis Legal, we are familiar with the benefits of support dogs. Genevieve and her dog Kendra assist in teaching literacy to children as part of the Story Dogs program.
