Facility’s support dog goes to Annapolis as advocate in child abuse legislation

By Greg Ellison

(Feb. 27, 2020) After providing primarily visual testimony before both Maryland legislative chambers earlier this year, Cricket Center facility dog Josiah, a Labrador golden retriever trained to comfort child abuse victims, made a third trek to Annapolis last week at the behest of Gov. Larry Hogan.

Cricket Center Executive Director Wendy Myers, who accompanied the politicking pooch  on his bridge crossings, said the pair spoke, and barked, in support of state legislation to establish a court dog and child witness program..3-+

Based in Berlin since August 2009, the Cricket Center provides a central location for agencies authorized to investigate child abuse claims in Worcester County.

“We’ve been strong advocates that we have to let [Josiah] sit with these victims as they testify,” she said.

Josiah’s most recent venture to the state capital was a victory lap of sorts after the General Assembly passed legislation permitting therapy dogs to accompany child victims while testifying before their alleged abusers in open court.

Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-31) was the primary sponsor for SB101 that passed on Jan. 23, while Del. Michael Malone (R-33) was the lead backer for HB311 that passed on Feb. 13.

Myers said when Josiah, 3, began serving as facility dog at the Cricket Center in May 2018, he began forming bonds with young and often frightened abuse victims.

“When children come into the Cricket Center, he greets them,” she said. “He is able to provide a level of comfort and support humans just can’t provide.”

Josiah arrived nearly two years ago fully prepared to provide emotional support to youths experiencing trauma after being trained by Canine Companions for Independence, a national nonprofit that provides assistance dogs.

“He knows almost 50 commands,” she said.

“He can tug socks off [and] he can press the switch plate to open handicapped accessible doors.”

Potential child abuse cases from across Worcester County are referred to the Cricket Center, with a small percentage found to be physical or sexual in nature, in addition to neglect, which results in multiple visits for youths to meet with therapists, family advocates and states attorneys.

“As they return, we provide in-house trauma-based therapy through [The] Life Crisis Center,” she said.

Established in 1976, the nonprofit Life Crisis Center provides crisis intervention and violence prevention for children and adults throughout Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties.

Myers said the child advocacy center also works in conjunction with Child Protective Services, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Worcester County State’s Attorney Office.

“[Josiah] accompanies them for their forensic interview, which is a scary time because they’re telling the details of something that’s happened to them that is very uncomfortable to talk about,” she said.

Offering a calming presence, child abuse victims will often snuggle and stroke Josiah while recalling troubling memories.

“If they come in for appointments with their therapist, he goes in with them … [or] when they visit with their family advocate, he’s there,” she said.

Through trying legal proceedings, child abuse victims sometimes find one bright spot in the form of a newfound animal compadre.

“They build up this great relationship with him,” she said.

The most heinous cases culminate in court appearances, with Josiah providing a positive presence right up until children give sworn testimony.

“When children testify, the person who hurt them … is just a few feet away,” she said. “That’s tough for an adult — can you imagine being a child and telling what happened during a sexual abuse case.”

At present, with the exception of Anne Arundel and Harford counties, Maryland does not allow therapy dogs in court with child witnesses, which would be permitted statewide under the legislation.

“We wait in the witness waiting area with the child and then they go and testify and then they come back to us,” she said. “They know that Josiah is waiting for them when they have to get on the stand.”

The current state law not only forces child victims to face their alleged abusers in court, but also makes them abandon canine agents of comfort, such as Josiah.

“He’s with them every step of the way until that last step, which is sometimes the hardest step,” she said.

Myers said a successful pilot program was started in 2016 by Simonaire in Anne Arundel County after comparable legislation failed to track statewide.

Myers said to avoid undue influence, the court dog and child witness program requires jurors to exit the courtroom while the dog enters.

“They’ll have the jury leave and we’ll put him in the box with the child victim,” she said. “They come back in and are instructed a dog is now in the courtroom.”

After hearing the legislation flew through both state chambers Hogan was sufficiently impressed to ask that a pack of therapy dogs attend a photo event in Annapolis on Feb. 18.

“When the governor saw it had passed unanimously in the house and senate, he said, ‘I want to meet some of these dogs,’” she said. “He invited some of these child advocacy center dogs and also some therapy dogs.”

Regardless of potential court visits, Josiah remains focused on healing the shattered lives of abused youths, along with maintaining a social media presence online at thecricketcenter.com.

Photo courtesy Wendy Myers
Cricket Center facility dog, Josiah, appearing slightly distracted, poses with Executive Director Wendy Myers and Gov. Larry Hogan last Tuesday in Annapolis7

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“There’s videos of him doing all kinds of things [like] getting tissues to give to kids out of the box [or] taking turns playing games,” she said. “It really does calm them and puts a smile on their face.”