LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. — Lebanon County is toying with the idea of adding a four-legged employee to its courthouse staff.
The county is looking at the possibility of getting a facility dog, which would be another form of support for families and staff who may find themselves in a stressful court-related situation.
The dog would come from Susquehanna Service Dogs, an organization that is part of Keystone Human Services and is based in East Hanover Township. It breeds, raises, and trains dogs to become service and facility dogs for a variety of reasons.
According to executive director Deb Tack, the dogs start at Susquehanna Service Dogs as newborn puppies and begin to learn skills as young as three days old.
They are eventually given to a volunteer puppy raiser, who takes the dog home for a year and a half.
“That puppy raiser is going to come to class, teach them basic skills taught by our trainers and practice great house manners with them in their home," explained Tack.
Tack says dogs that work in courthouses have a special set of skills.
"We’re usually looking for a dog that is willing to work the crowd," she said. "A dog that enjoys interacting with multiple people, enjoys that tactile interaction.”
The goal is to have an extra form of support for those who may be going through a stressful experience.
“Whether that be someone who’s there to participate in a hearing that’s feeling very anxious or a staff member that has had to absorb some of that trauma from listening to someone’s story," she said.
If approved by county commissioners, Lebanon County would start the facility dog within its drug, DUI, and veterans treatment courts, then gradually expand to other parts of the court system.
According to the county's probation chief, Audrey Fortna, and President Judge John Tywalk, the facility dog program could be fully funded by grants and would not cost the county any additional money.
Several neighboring counties already have a dog in their courthouse. Susquehanna Service Dogs has trained courthouse facility dogs for Cumberland, York, and Lancaster Counties.
Lebanon County is still going through the application process and the training process could take up to two years.
“They’re right in our backyard so we share the closest of community and are excited about [being able to help them] welcome a dog into their court system," said Tack.
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