Commissioner Diaz wants therapy dogs to be allowed in the courtroom

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz wants the courthouse to become a less stressful place for children and certain other crime victims by allowing therapy dogs in the courtroom.

The Commission on March 7 approved a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Diaz to urge the state legislature to pass legislation authorizing courts to allow the use of service animals, therapy animals, or facility dogs in court proceedings when taking the testimony of a child victim or witness, a sexual offense victim or witness, or a person with an intellectual disability in any proceeding involving a sexual offense or child abuse, abandonment or neglect.

“Testifying in court can be a very traumatic experience for children and other victims of traumatic crime,” Commissioner Diaz said. “The use of therapy dogs can have the kind of calming effect that enables victims to provide critical testimony in a case.”