A juvenile justice center in Greene County, Missouri got a furry new employee this month.
Derby, a 3-year-old Black Labrador trained by Missouri-based program Duo Dogs, makes the round at the Greene County Juvenile Justice Center to provide comfort to those who need it.
Worth the Investment
Duo Dog estimates that around $40,000 goes into Derby’s training and equipment. Although that may seem like a large sum, the results make the investment well worth it.
“A practical example for what I would use him for is if we have a youth here in the facility that I work in, their behaviors are maybe escalating, or maybe they’ve gotten some bad news, we’ll have really heavy conversations about some really heavy things. And so we can actually put Derby up on my couch, and Derby will lay across the youth’s lap. Or if the youth doesn’t want Derby that close, Derby can sit on the floor by the participant’s feet. It gives the youths kind of something nice and positive to focus their energy and attention on,” Derby’s primary handler Ethan Potter explained in a video posted to Derby’s Facebook.
Relief in Family Court
On Wednesdays, Derby attends Greene County Family Treatment Court, which can be a difficult space for those in attendance.
“Almost all of the participants greet Derby before they greet the judge or anyone else,” Potter says.
In another post on Derby’s Facebook page, Ashley, one of his handler’s, explained the impact of having Derby at family court, “Every day [Derby] brings smiles to the faces of staff and families but getting to witness Derby bring comfort to this client who was experiencing distress in Court today was the most rewarding experience. I am so grateful for Derby.”
The woman, who is anonymous, told Ashley, “If it wasn’t for this dog, I would be a wreck right now.”
Recently, Cambridge Memorial Hospital made Canadian history by adopting Ember, a dedicated, certified facility dog. Rather than assisting patients, Ember provides emotional support to hospital workers.
The ability for dogs to calm us and provide relief in stressful situations is unparalleled among other species. Their intuition regarding human emotion is truly astonishing. Undeniably, we are lucky to have dogs like Derby and Ember in the world.
To keep up with Derby, follow his Facebook and Instagram accounts.
