Paz was first dog allowed to accompany a victim into courtroom for her impact statement

[charlotte bednarsh]

It's been an exciting week.  Paz was allowed by a New York State Supreme Court judge to accompany the kidnapping victim he had been supporting, into the courtroom and remain with her during the entire sentencing hearing of the man who had kidnapped her, and her two year old child.  He remained next to her when she confronted the man, and gave her impact statement.  When we arrived at the NY State Supreme Court, we were surrounded by flashing cameras and reporters who had gotten word that a therapy dog was being allowed into the courtroom to help the victim of a very high profile case.  The judge allowed the reporters into the courtroom as long as they did not take pictures of the victim or give her name.  We were followed by the reporters after the proceedings and Paz acted like a pro.  He lay down and began to lick the lens of the cameraman who had stooped down to get a headshot of Paz.  The story appeared in the NY Post, NY Daily News and the NY TImes.

Here is the link to the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/10/nyregion/therapy-dog-helps-woman-...

Hers is the link to the Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/man-60-life-prison-im...

I am so very proud of my goofy boy who was able to provide incredible support to this courageous victim and help her confront the evil person who committed this awful crime.  The judge said that in all his years on the bench, he had never seen such horrific acts committed on a young woman and child, and he sentenced the man to 60 years to life!

Our doodles are just amazing!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yay Paz....you are amazing!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Charlotte, You are Paz are doing such an amazing service. Thank you. 

[charlotte bednarsh]

Hi Cheryl, Of course you can share this article.  My hope is that it will help to expand the use of therapy dogs to assist victims during some very difficult moments.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Charley, with your permission may I share this article with our expanding Courthouse Dogs program?  Finn is still working with special needs children and at the hospital. We can't enter the Courthouse program until our schedule is more flexible but I know others in the overall Roxy program would be inspired by you and Paz and encouraged to try.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, what an amazing story.  So proud of Paz for doing such a wonderful job.  All the press and cameras would scare the crap out of most dogs. 

[Wendy and Myla]

This is so, so interesting to me!  It brings tears to my eyes!!!  Please give Paz the biggest hug from Myla and I!  I wish we could be involved in something like this!  I think it is so important and brings so much trust and comfort and hopefully, as in your latest case, justice!!!!!

[charlotte bednarsh]

Hi Wendy,

Paz is the only dog we have who is doing this.  I work at the Brooklyn Family Justice Center which is a collaboration between the Mayor's Office and the Brooklyn Da; we serve victims of domestic violence and their children.  We only see victims, not defendents because the DA is essentially the prosecutor.  Paz generally works with a victim, which is usually a child, during the pretrial preparation, interviews etc.  In this case, he accompanied the victim to court during the trial, where he remained in a room outside the courtroom, and during the sentencing hearing, the judge granted permission for Paz to accompany the victim into the court. I think it works well because the victim is given the opportunity to meet with Paz, prior to the interviews and so forth.  Those meetings provide an opportunity for the victim and Paz to bond, and it has worked really well.  I think it is important for the victim to have a relationship with the dog, because it's the special bond that supports the victim during difficult interviews and trial.

[Wendy and Myla]

So, so awesome!!!!!  Paz, you deserve a medal!  I do have a few questions - when you do this, does the same dog stay with the same defendants? - do they get to choose which dog they gel with? - or is Paz the only dog in your system?  I find it so interesting and I can totally see why a doodle would help fill this need!  Their eyes alone inspire trust!!!! 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

"World"  I meant world :) not weld.

[charlotte bednarsh]

Thank you for the complements. With Paz's support, this courageous victim was able to testify, and ultimately give an impact statement that brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the court, except the man who had been convicted of these horrific acts.  In so many respects, I felt priveleged that Paz and I were part of the team who helped this courageous woman gain justice for her child and herself.  The judge was so upset by the crime, that at sentencing, he told defendent that he wished he could send him to a jail that would inflict the same acts which he (the defendent) had committed against a helpless woman and baby,  including starvation, no bathroom, and being bound with duct tape. The defendent never apologized; he simply smirked at the judge, which sent the judge into an absolute fury.   After the sentencing, the judge came over to the victim, hugged her and said her courage had inspired him, court staff, and the jury.