<div><p>Testifying in court is never easy, it's even harder when you're a child having to face the monster that hurt you. A child might be embarrassed, scared and feel alone, but a new program is helping to fix all that, and all it needed was a wagging tail.</p><p>Court dogs are popping up all around the world to help victims of abuse feel more comfortable testifying. A victim meets with a counselor and the dog weeks before they are scheduled to go to court. With these specially-trained dogs there to offer love and support children open up faster and more completely than those without dogs.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/facilitydog-assistance-dogs-northwest.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/facilitydog-assistance-dogs-northwest_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/facilitydog-assistance-dogs-northwest_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/facilitydog-assistance-dogs-northwest_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="Dog Kisses" alt="Dog Kisses" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Assistance Dogs Northwest</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Also called Facility Dogs, the dogs are specially trained for gentleness. At almost imperceptible changes in mood they'll lay their head on laps, paw for a hug or offer gentle kisses. </p><p>The dogs are also allowed in the courtroom when it's time to testify. Who wouldn't feel safer with their big furry friend beside them?</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>There are about 70 specially trained dogs in counties around the US, and other countries have started to catch on too.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/seattledog-seattledogspot.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/seattledog-seattledogspot_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="Sleeping Dog" alt="Sleeping Dog" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Seattle Dog</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Rachel Crawford is a child witness program coordinator in Ontario, Canada. She handles Merel, Ontario's first facility dog.</p><p>"I can't even imagine doing this work without her now that I've had her around," she said. "The kids are much more willing to engage with us; they look forward to coming to the courthouse."</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>With cases of abuse sadly too frequent we can hope so see more dogs like Merel in courtrooms around the world.</p><p></p><p></p></div>
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