Submitted information:
Cobb County District Attorney Flynn D. Broady, Jr. announces that Rose, a three-year old black Labrador retriever, will join the office as a support resource for victims and staff.
The District Attorney’s Office was inspired to acquire a comfort dog for the office by the efforts of the Northeast Cobb Business Association’s 5K-9 event. Ultimately, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Pups with a Purpose program donated Rose to the office. Pups with Purpose is a program which matches Forsyth County Jail inmates with volunteer citizen dog trainers and Forsyth County Animal Shelter dogs. As the inmates receive social and job skills, the shelter dogs receive a second chance at finding a home. Rose received specialized training from Scot Rucker with Rucker Dog Training, which has prepared her to assist victims of crime in court.
“When exposed to a comfort dog, the disclosure rate for kids went from 30% to 68-70%,” Sheriff Ron Freeman said. “We’ve seen first-hand how crime victims who are under such stress and strain, introduced to the dog and can see their emotions taper down before they sit in a court room.”
The DA’s Victim Witness Unit has been working hard to bring this resource to Cobb County. “The level of stress and anxiety that victims of domestic violence experience is drastically reduced with the introduction of assistance animals.” Kimberly McCoy, Director of the Victim Witness Unit, said. “It’s been a long process, but we are excited.”
“Child victims will have the opportunity to have Rose there to calm them down and assure them that they are in a safe place so they can tell their story and not feel afraid of what happens if they tell it,” DA Broady said.
Related stories
- Canine CellMates has ribbon-cutting for Cobb location
- Cobb Second Chance Desk opens
- Five people graduate from Cobb Drug Treatment Court
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
