There are about to be some friendly – and furry – new faces at the Wagga courthouse.
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After a trial program with trained therapy dogs at Manly’s courthouse, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is rolling the scheme to 11 other courts, including Wagga.
Therapy dogs are quiet, friendly and happy to interact with strangers. The Labradors will be located in foyers, waiting rooms, safe rooms and witness rooms as requested.
“While Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is best known for providing guide dogs and other mobility aids to people with sight loss, our pets as therapy program has been operating for 30 years and is expanding,” Guide Dogs NSW/ACT CEO Dale Cleaver said.
NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman said therapy pets would be a benefit to courthouse visitors.
“Coming to court can be a highly stressful experience, particularly for victims of crime, but therapy dogs are proven to make people feel calmer,” he said.
“We’re excited that our therapy dogs will bring comfort, companionship and a smile to the faces of court users in Wagga who may be feeling anxious.”
