Victims of crime and witnesses in courtrooms across New South Wales are set to benefit from the "pet effect" as therapy dogs are introduced to help combat anxiety and stress.
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But despite the proven effects, the ACT government has unfortunately refused to even consider such a program.
The Canine Court Companion program started as a pilot at Sydney's Manly Court, running for six months from April 2017. Two accredited therapy dogs and their volunteering owners were on hand to provide canine companionship to people, particularly child witnesses and vulnerable victims, who were navigating the intimidating court system.
Now, more court rooms will have therapy dogs on offer across the state after the pilot was deemed successful.
Research shows that having a dog to talk to and pat can calm people who might be feeling nervous or scared. It makes sense to implement the program in places like courts if there's the slightest chance they might improve the traumatic experience for those involved.
ACT's acting Victims of Crime Commissioner, the NSW Attorney-General and therapy dogs volunteer group the Delta Society have called on the ACT government to consider adopting the program.
At the moment, the ACT government allows assistance dogs in court as required by law, or at the discretion of a judge or magistrate based on individual circumstances.
Despite this being the case, ACT acting Victims of Crime Commissioner Helen Watchirs said it took "considerable time and advocacy" to allow a young girl's assistance dog to accompany her to give evidence in a sex abuse case against her father in early 2017.
Ms Watchirs said the ACT needed to be proactive and encourage the use of therapy dogs for victims of crime and vulnerable witnesses.
She said it would help serve the interests of justice by facilitating accurate testimony by reducing trauma and stress.
Similar programs are being explored in Victoria, and in the United States therapy dogs, also known as comfort dogs, are being used widely.
They were used in helping witnesses of the Florida school shooting to return to school after the attack.
The ACT government is being shortsighted in ruling out considering such a program when it has seen success in NSW. If the courts can allow it once, as in the case of the child giving evidence in 2017, it should be made a more permanent arrangement so that others can benefit from the "pet effect".
