Therapy Dogs
Our office has one therapy dog that serves our district and is housed in McClain County. His name is Bear. His role is vital – it is to provide comfort and companionship to those who come to those offices to tell their story.
Their Background
Bear was trained at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud, OK through the Guardian Angels Program, which is sponsored by Friends for Folks.
Friends for Folks is a nonprofit that partners with correctional facilities in Oklahoma to assign a dog that was previously abandoned to an inmate trainer. The inmate trainer works with the dog to train them in obedience. The dog will then go on to be adopted by a family, undergo further training to become a service or therapy dog, or, in Bear’s case, come to work as a law enforcement officer.
Bear’s training at Mabel Bassett was just the first step in becoming a therapy dog. The next step is to go through a therapy dog certification which consists of a few tests to determine if the dog’s obedience and temperament qualify them to be a therapy dog. Bear is certified through the H.A.L.O. Foundation. H.A.L.O. is also a nonprofit and its mission states that they, “believe in the health and wellness our pets deliver to those who find themselves in times of transition, trauma, or crisis.”
His Purpose
No one asks to be a victim of a crime or even to witness one, so we work to provide the highest quality of care and comfort when people come in to share their stories.
It is our job to seek justice and represent those who have been the victims of crime. At times that means holding a loved one accountable or testifying about a crime they witnessed. That can be difficult to do, so our therapy dogs become a great asset in helping people feel comfortable while here.
Our office has had Bear since May 4, 2020. See how we’ve grown to love him since then!
Meet Bear:
Bear is a 100-pound German shepherd who was donated by a family before starting his training. He is almost 3 years old and has an endless amount of energy! Bear loves to chase the leaves that fall from trees or visit the Court Clerk’s Office when he can. The DA’s Office staff loves to take him on walks and knows his picky taste in treats.
Although Bear is playful, he is also very smart. He knows how to play peek-a-boo and open the courthouse doors. He understands when it’s time to work and loves to play with the kids who come to the courthouse. His handler, Jonathan, says that Bear loves to go outside and get dirty, but the “times Bear spends with victims make every bath worth it.”
The Law
Oklahoma Statute (12 O.S. Sec 2611.12) currently states that children 18 and under are permitted to have a therapy dog with them in court.
As you can see, Bear is beloved by all. He is a therapeutic presence for victims, witnesses, and even employees of our office. We are very thankful to have him and believe he is crucial for connecting with members of the public to make them feel secure while they are in the office.