SNOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US LIVE
IN THE D.
HERE WE ARE CATS AND DOGS LIVING
TOGETHER.
>> Tati: THAT'S RIGHT.
WE KNOW A COMFORT A PET CAN
BRING US ANY TIME WITH THEIR
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
>> Chuck: THE COMFORT IS
PROVIDED IN COURTROOMS FOR KIDS
FACING TOUGH SITUATIONS.
MITCH SHOWS US WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN THE HEART OF DETROIT.
>> REPORTER: DOGS MAY BE MAN'S
BEST FRIENDS.
WHEN CHILDREN HAVE TO TESTIFY IN
COURT DAN'S DOGS ARE THERE TO
COMFORT THEM EVERY STEP OF THE
WAY.
>> EVERY.
>> REPORTER: HOW DID YOU GET THE
IDEA?
>> ACTUALLY HIS OWNERS GAVE ME
THE IDEA.
I WAS READY TO RETIRED FROM THE
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND SHE
MENTIONED WE ARE DOING THIS IN
FLORIDA AND WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN
MICHIGAN.
I TALKED TO EVERY LAWYER, JUDGE,
ADVOCACY CLINIC AND NOBODY COULD
GIVE ME A REASON WHY NOT.
>> DAN STARTED THE CANINE
ADVOCACY PROGRAM SIX YEARS AGO
TO PROVIDE RELAXATION TO
CHILDREN TESTIFYING FOLLOWING A
TRAGIC EXPERIENCE.
>> WHEN THE KIDS SHOW UP FOR
COURT, THEY ARE TERRIFIED.
WHAT WE DO IS GET THE ANXIETY
DOWN BY USING A DOG.
>> Reporter: DAN HAS 23 DOGS
STATION AROUND THE STATE READY
TORGOCH INTO ACTION.
DOGS LIKE JUNEAU PROVIDE SUPPORT
OR ACT AS A PILLOW.
WHEN CHILDREN ARE CALLED TO THE
STAND THE DOGS NEVER LEAVE THEIR
SIDE.
>> THE DOGS COME AND THE
YOUNGEST IS 3 AND WE HAVE GONE
UP TO 17.
>> THEY PUT A 3-YEAR-OLD ON THE
STAND?
>> TWO CHILDREN, THREE AND FOUR
MADE IT THROUGH TWO PRELIMINARY
EXAMS.
>> REPORTER: IT IS AN EXPERIENCE
NO CHILD SHOULD EVER HAVE TO
FACE.
WITH THE CANINE ADVOCACY
PROGRAM, KIDS DON'T HAVE TO FACE
IT ALONE.
>> WHEN WE ARE DONE AND WALK THE
CHILDREN TO THE CAR AND SEE A
SMILE FROM GOING THROUGH THIS
HORRENDOUS COURT SYSTEM, THAT'S
IT.
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING.
>> Reporter: WITH A BELLY RUB
AND GOOD HUG DAN AND OTHERS AT
THE CANINE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ARE
BRINGING COMFORT TO CHILDREN IN
THE HEART OF DETROIT.
>> Chuck: WHAT A BLESSING YOU
ARE, DAN.
DAN IS HERE.
HE JOINS US IN STUDIO.
TELL US WHO IS WITH YOU NOW?
>> WE BROUGHT AMOS FOUNDING
MEMBER OF THE CANINE ADVOCACY
PROGRAM.
HE IS THE FIRST D IN THE STATE
OF MICHIGAN.
>> I LOVE HIS COOKIES.
>> HE WAS NAMED AFTER THE
COOKIE.
>> AMOS IS RELAXING NOW.
HE IS A SWEETIE PIE.
>> HOW DO DOGS BECOME PART OF
THE PROGRAM?
>> WE GET OUR DOGS FROM THE
BLIND.
THEY DONATE THEM, CAREER CHANGE
DOGS NOT GOING INTO SERVICE WITH
A VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON.
IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT
TEMPERAMENT WE CONTACT THEM
AROUND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
I DO THE COURTROOM TRAINING.
THEY ARE ABLE TO LAY LIKE THIS
FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
>> Chuck: WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN
ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
I HAVE HEARD OF DOGS IN
HOSPITALS AND IT ADDS COMFORT TO
PEOPLE.
>> THE AIM OF THE PROGRAM IS
REDUCE ANXIETY SO KIDS CAN GO IN
AND DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
OUR SYSTEM IS NOT CHILD
FRIENDLY.
>> IF SOMEONE IS WATCHING.
HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED?
>> OUR WEB SITE HAS A BUTTON TO
DONATE.
MY ADDRESS IS RIGHT THERE.
IF YOU WANT TO SEND CHECKS.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET FUNDING
FROM A CORPORATION ALONG THE
WAY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND AND
PROVIDE MORE SERVICES.
>> Chuck: YOU GET FEEDBACK
FROM LAWYERS AND JUDGES.
>> THEY LOVE IT.
I GET MOST REFERRALS FROM JUDGES
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY KNOW WHEN THAT CHILD GETS
ON THE STAND THE CHILD CAN BE
READY TO TESTIFY.
THE CHILD WILL BE CALM.
THE AIM OF THE PROGRAM, WE WANT
TO DO LESS HARM THAN THE SYSTEM
DOES.
WE HAVE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT.
>> Tati: I ASSUME THE SAME
FROM THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE TO
TESTIFY.
>> WHEN WE ARE DONE I WANT TO
SEE A SMILE ON THAT CHILD'S
FACE.
WE WALK THEM RIGHT OUT TO THE
CAR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE
HAD SOMETHING POSITIVE OUT OF
THIS NIGHTMARE.
>> Chuck: AMOS IS GIVING US