feel good
“ That was exactly what we wanted. That statement effectively established that this can be a useful tool going forward.”
Why therapy dogs in court matter
Edith explains that research shows if you like dogs, simply having one near you lowers your blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels.
“ A dog also provides a sense of safety and warmth. When you’ re touching a dog, you’ re touching something warm. Their breathing is calm and steady.”
All of those things have a biological and neurological impact. When physical anxiety decreases, you’ re able to think more clearly and the words come more easily, which is vital when you have to give testimony that may otherwise result in the wrong person walking free.
“ That’ s the primary goal of any therapy dog: helping people feel safe and grounded so their thinking brain can come online. That’ s what the court needs. The court needs facts, and facts have to come out in words.”
Edith explains that research shows if you like dogs, simply having one near you lowers your blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels.
What’ s next?
Though Edith doesn’ t see Toffee becoming a full‐time courthouse dog supporting hundreds of children(“ Her job is here at Jelly Beanz”), what she did was open a door for others.
“ For example,” says Edith,“ the Teddy Bear Foundation in Johannesburg works with an organisation called Top Dog. They already prepare children for court with therapy dogs. They are wellpositioned to take this work even further.”
Edith would also love to see someone establish an NGO focused specifically on courtroom dogs.
“ It’ s important to remember that Toffee wasn’ t trained as a courtroom dog. She’ s a therapy dog. Those are different roles.”
But the precedent has now been set. One gentle dog lying beside a child in court has shown that testimony can be made safer, kinder, and more effective. And for Edith, that means the door is open for many more children to find their courage, with a trusted companion at their side.
And, of course, the type of dog matters.
“ Toffee’ s a talented sleeper. She doesn’ t mind lying around like a couch potato,” laughs Edith.“ But really, I think it’ s her gentleness. She’ s not a high‐energy dog.”
Edith is also unsure whether her previous dog could have been trained to jump onto the ottoman and remain there throughout the testimony.“ Toffee is different. She’ s a pleaser. She wants to do the right thing.”
18 www. petpals. co. za