Courtroom Facility Dogs Provide Calm In Abuse Trials

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 25: Molly in foreground and in background l to r David Crenshaw,Clinical Director and Lori Stella,Clinical Social Worker with Childrens Home of Poughkeepdie,Celeste Walsen Executive Director and Ellen O Neill-Stephens,founder of Courthouse Dogs Foundation... A national conference for facility dogs,who are trained to enter courtrooms with victims of child abuse,took place today downtown Toronto.Leading experts in the field from the U.S. ,members of the law enforcement and justice communities,child therapists and dogs were in attendance Molly the courthouse dog,a 7 yr old lab was a hit...Molly ws trained by Canine Companions for Independance and she assists crime victims,witnesses,and others during stressful stages of legal proceedings such as child forensic interviews and trials. (Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)