'Comfort' dogs at multiple courts across the US help soothe trauma [wusa9.com]

Carey Sipp 11/16/2112:00 PM

By Associated Press, WUSA9, November 14, 2021

A chance encounter between a big, friendly dog and a mentally withdrawn teen who had been sexually assaulted was the light bulb moment for Powhatan County Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Cerullo, who discovered canines can have a discernible calming effect on traumatized victims of crime.

In November 2020, Cerullo brought his new dog Olive — a then 12-month-old, 100-pound Bullmastiff — into the office to meet his co-workers. By coincidence, a 13-year-old rape victim arrived that morning to meet with another prosecutor who was assigned to the girl's case.

"She was very, very withdrawn," Cerullo said. "She was not in the right mental space to meet with the prosecutor and be subjected to questions."

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