on a Leash, an organization that maintains a local chapter in Greenville.
“ Each therapy dog organization has their own control evaluation where [ the dogs ] have to be able to do certain things, like show that if they’ re approached by an erratic stranger they will maintain their composure,” Jessica said.“ I knew that was going to be a struggle. Not that Willie would react in an aggressive way but if somebody comes up acting crazy, he’ s going to want to play!”
So Jessica decided to take Willie’ s training up a notch and started him at Sit Means Sit, an advanced facility near Royse City that would lead to Willie’ s therapy dog certification and where every Saturday morning, Willie and Jessica still attend classes together to stay sharp.
After months of training and strenuous testing, Willie earned his designation as a certified therapy dog by Love on a Leash. Then the America Kennel Club honored him with an AKC canine good citizen certification. And most recently, Willie has been nationally recognized as a featured member of Guardify’ s“ Comfort Crew.”
“ He needs a little trophy shelf,” Jennifer said.“ He has more credentials than I do.”
Despite all the accolades, Jessica and Willie still go to work everyday and while Jessica keeps the staff unified and focused in a stressful, often heartbreaking job, Willie works to take the stress away.
“ We had a need for kids to be supported in the courtroom and he did that,” Jessica said.“ But having him here for the forensic interviews where the kids are getting that support from the very beginning has been just amazing. I noticed that when he would sit in on an interview, when kids would start to show emotions, he’ d see it before I did. And he would get up and go put his head on their lap or lay across their feet.”
Willie’ s gift of diffusing tension spread even to the staff.
After a difficult interview, dropping in to Jessica’ s office to scratch Willie’ s soft fur became a new normal and at times, even police officers began to show up after a difficult day asking to spend time with the dog.
“ It’ s beautiful to see, Jessica said.“ He comforts more than just the victims.”
In one of the letters composed for Jessica’ s nomination for Guardify Child Advocacy Leader of the Year, a staff member wrote:“ Jessica placed her trust in me and gave me the opportunity to step into a role that has since become my life’ s calling.”
If Willie Sweet could talk, he would say the same.
It should be noted that the Hunt County Children’ s Advocacy Center has had many name changes since it opened in the early 2000s and still serves all victims of sexual trauma regardless of age. Willie’ s love is limitless.
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