'Courthouse dog' to make her debut
MUNCIE, Ind. — Frankie is ready to go to work.
The 21-month-old black Labrador is Delaware County's first "Courthouse Dog," a service dog to help young people through the juvenile justice system.
Frankie is the latest team member at the county's Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) office. She joins the team full-time this week and will be introduced to the public at 3 p.m. Friday in the commissioners courtroom on the third floor of the Delaware County Building.
There was some consternation among county officials in late January when CASA sought and received $16,000 for a "courthouse dog," but CASA director Ashley Soldaat explained that courthouse dogs, who reduce stress and anxiety for children in the justice system, have become increasingly common in the past decade.
Frankie "will provide silent comfort and support to children," Soldaat said. She'll attend juvenile court hearings and interviews to support abuse and neglect victims as well as juveniles in the delinquency process.
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Frankie is the second courthouse dog in Indiana, following Jordy at Monroe County CASA. Frankie is a graduate of Support Dogs Inc. of St. Louis, where she and Soldaat were matched in February. Since coming to Muncie with Soldaat, who will care for her outside of work hours, Frankie has been establishing her bond with her handlers and getting accustomed to her new environment, Soldaat said.
"She has come to the CASA office every day since she came to Muncie," Soldaat said. "She has had intermittent juvenile court exposure and visits to the Child Advocacy Center where she will be assisting in forensic interviews."
"Training was both an incredible experience and an incredible challenge," Soldaat told The Star Press. "These dogs are not robots, they are dogs ... just incredibly intelligent and educated dogs. ... Frankie has done wonderful. She loves working with people and even more with children."
Contact Keith Roysdon at 765-213-5828 and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.