A deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney in Virginia adopted a rescue poodle named Seamus to bring comfort and assistance to courthouse witnesses and victims of crimes, reports News 10.
For most of her adult life as a police officer and then an attorney, Gillian Deegan has dealt with law enforcement. Unfortunately, she also had experience as a victim.
“When I was 20, I was the victim of a violent crime,” Deegan told the news outlet. “It was scary. It was intimidating. It was, in some instances, a little dehumanizing… it was almost as if there were times where you felt like you were being re-victimized.”
The experience inspired her choice of profession. She dedicates herself to “[helping] victims through the process.” And that’s where Seamus comes in.
From Stray to Courthouse Dog
The Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection found Seamus emaciated. They picked him up as a stray, and he received the loving care and support of an organization called Angels of Assisi.
Lisa O’Neill, the program’s executive director, found Seamus in “rough shape” with “long, matted hair caked with dirt and grime.” At first, nobody could tell how thin he was because his fur was so dense and thick. However, everyone quickly realized he was a special dog.
“You could see that little spark in him,” says O’Neill.
Soon afterward, Deegan scoured the group’s website seeking a dog to work in the courthouse with her. She spotted Seamus and came straight away. Shortly after, Seamus went home with the public attorney.
A New Chapter
In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly approved the use of “certified facility dogs” as a means to provide assistance and comfort to people needing it. As part of this program, Seamus is providing a valuable gift to the people of Virginia.
Concurrent with his courthouse duties, Seamus is training with Wags by Wegel to become a certified service dog. Deegan says that when people interact with Seamus, “everything kind of calms down, [and] the anxiety goes away.”
Deegan also says that while Seamus’ work is noble, the costs for training have added up. She hopes to see corporate sponsors help cities and counties fund their own programs so that assistance dogs are more available to those who need them.
