A Deaf Dog Changed This Child’s Life Forever

It is no secret that therapy dogs are excellent for helping people of any age. If you’re suffering from a difficult or stressful situation, they can bring comfort. In fact, there are therapy dogs for all types of problems, including seizures and hyperactive disorders.

One specific type of therapy dog will help children feel safe whenever they have to testify in a courtroom. It’s no exaggeration to claim that testifying is a stressful event, and that’s even harder for a child. Therefore, a therapy dog is an excellent comfort in those times. Karl is a therapy dog that changed one little girl’s life forever, and this is their story.

A Court Dog

Adult matters are often frightening for kids. This is especially true when they must testify in court. However, many children are put into that situation. One little girl was required to take the stand because someone wronged her.

She Froze

This little girl froze up when she saw the man who had wronged her. No one blamed her for being scared, but everyone knew that her testimony was crucial in the case. That’s when the court dog, Karl, came to save the day!

About Karl

Karl wasn’t your average therapy dog. In fact, he weighed 65 pounds and was a 5-year-old white boxer. He was part of the Companions for Courage program and was also a K-9th circuit dog who appeared in court to offer support for kids who testified.

The K-9th Circuit Program

The dogs in the K-9th circuit program were special because they offered a sense of comfort and protection for children who had to testify in a courtroom. US courts now recognize the need for providing trauma-sensitive measures, so therapy dogs are often the go-to solution.

More about Karl

While all therapy dogs are very special, Karl works in a more unique way because he’s deaf. That’s actually a great asset because he doesn’t react to the noises in the courtroom and focuses solely on whoever he is trying to comfort.

Collected and Calm

Because of Karl’s calm demeanor, he’s highly popular with the children he works with. His size makes the kids feel protected and safe. Plus, he often comes to the courtroom in silly outfits, which puts kids at ease.

A Challenge

Training Karl was a challenge because he was deaf. Joanne was his trainer and had trained three boxers before she adopted Karl. However, she’d never worked with a deaf dog before. He required different training because he could not hear the commands.

The Solution

Joanne came up with a very creative way to help Karl follow commands. He ended up learning American Sign Language, so his orders were signed to him. Soon, he excelled in his work because he could understand what he had to do.

Enjoying Life

While Karl is a special-needs dog, he’s overcome most of his issues and enjoys life as a therapy dog. He truly loves to bring joy to children, seniors, and others he sees. Plus, his disability makes him a great asset in the courtroom.

Giving a Helping Paw

The role of a therapy dog in the K-9th circuit is to help others during sad times. These pooches give testifying children the courage necessary to say what they need to say, and the process is much easier for them.

A Little Girl’s Encounter

Some things just should never happen to little girls. This young lady knew the man who hurt her was likely to be in the courtroom. Therefore, she was fearful because she didn’t want to see him. However, Karl was there to ensure that she felt safe.

One Problem

There was a minor problem Karl had when working. Most children don’t know sign language, so they couldn’t communicate with him. Joanne realized the issue and came up with a great idea as a solution.

The Hand Signal

Joanne taught him a special hand signal, and now Karl was the most popular therapy dog for the courtroom. Children felt like they had a secret code whenever they signaled to him. Therefore, he saved the day on many occasions because of this.

Therapy Dogs in the Courtroom

Therapy dogs in courtrooms across America are highly encouraged, especially for younger victims that must testify. One girl seriously needed a therapy dog and baffled Joanne when she asked one single question.

A Difficult Case

The little girl had a tough case, and she asked if Karl was there to protect her. In fact, she was afraid of the whole world after one man had wronged her. That’s why it was crucial for the therapy dog to be available.

Nervousness

Karl sat beside the small girl throughout her depositions and prep sessions. Overall, she had the courage to speak up, even though it was a scary situation. Once she entered the courtroom, she froze up and was afraid to face that horrible man.

The Hero

Quickly, the small girl signed to Karl, so he came and sat beside her. This brought security and comfort that she badly needed. Karl was there for her, and she ran her feet along his fur to draw strength from his presence.

A Support System

The young child began testifying with Karl by her side. That helped her get through her trial with no issues. All that prepping paid off, too! However, no one expected what happened right after the trial.

A Huge Difference

Karl’s story about the trial and his efforts spread like wildfire. Soon, millions of people worldwide had heard about his amazing feat. Everyone adored how he helped the young girl, which spread awareness for the program he was part of.

Continuing to Help

After that trial was finished, Karl continued supporting children who had to testify. However, he didn’t disappear from their lives once the trial was over. In fact, he continued to offer help, even outside the courtroom.

A Hero

Karl went through life and had no idea that he was a hero to the children he met. He’s still a therapy dog and works in courtrooms. In fact, he constantly ensures he’s doing his job the best way he can. His disability doesn’t stop him.

Not Just His Job

Karl doesn’t treat children as patients to help. He simply acts like they are his friends. The little girl received security from the therapy dog. However, Karl also received affection and love from her, and that’s all a dog really wants.

All Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs throughout the nation simply want attention and love, and that’s true for all pets. However, these are special because they provide companionship and security to those most in need. Here, you can see Boomer helping in Dependency Court.

Judges Too

Therapy dogs can also work with the judges who have to hear these cases. They work long hours, and it can be grueling for them. Sometimes, it is nice to receive cuddles from a perky pooch. See Judge Latimore with happy therapy dogs!

Bring Joy

A therapy dog isn’t just a working animal. He is a friend that children require when dealing with stressful situations, such as testifying in court. Here, you see Dupont, one of the K-9th therapy dogs, being friendly in Dependency Court.

The Morning Shift

Therapy dogs generally work whenever someone is in need. However, their trainers break things down into shifts, such as morning and afternoon. They never miss a chance to lighten someone’s day and bring love, though!

Making a Difference

All the community therapy dogs make a difference to those around them, but they don’t know it. Here are Dupont and Essie relaxing after a long day of spreading some love to those in need.

Perks of the Job

One of the best parts of being on the Companion for Courage team is that they receive tons of love while working. These therapy dogs work with seniors and children, and no one is shy about showering them with love and affection.

Worker of the Month

There could never be a sole therapy dog of the month, as they’re all amazing at their jobs. It doesn’t really matter, though, because they don’t care about such things. These therapy dogs only want to bring comfort and protection to those around them.

Waiting Patiently

The court system is a waiting game, so people have to be patient, but so do therapy dogs. You can see Karl understands that completely. He’s taught himself to sit on the bench, waiting patiently for friends to arrive.

The Complete Team

The K-9th program has flourished throughout the years, so there are many therapy dogs available now. That means they can help more people than ever before. From Karl’s work inside the courtroom, more programs have begun, helping children across the nation.

Karl’s Impact

The little girl gave a successful testimony against the man who wronged her. Therefore, he was convicted of his crime, which he deserved. In fact, he was locked up and can’t hurt her or anyone else, and that was all because of one deaf therapy dog called Karl.

Meet Bella

Bella is a loyal and calm Doberman Pinscher who loves attention. She’s one of the K-9th circuit program dogs and offers reassurance and security to the children who must testify in the courtroom.

Boomer

Boomer is also a therapy dog in the K-9th circuit program. He’s a Poodle/Sheltie mixture and had actually been a therapy dog before joining this group. In fact, he’s the one who helps others qualify dogs for this line of work.

Daisy-Mai

Daisy-Mai has been a therapy dog since 2011. She’s actually a pedigree Pomeranian and works in Orlando as part of the Pet Therapy team. This is found in both Arnold Palmer Hospital and Nemours Children’s Hospital.

Kenai

Kenai had a rough time as a puppy and had to get rescued. The American Atika now has a much better life, and he also helps other people find comfort in their time of need. His favorite thing is belly rubs, and he’ll beg until he receives them!

Tilley

Matilda is often shortened to Tilley, but her name means “mighty in battle.” This is very fitting because she was abandoned after she got sick as a puppy. Doctors nursed her back to health, and now she’s a hero to many people.

Essie

Essie was born in 2012 and then rescued. As a mixed breed, she works as a therapy dog to meet so many friendly people. In fact, she wants to be part of the community and is in the Companions for Courage program.

Josie

Josie got rescued in 2008 and became a therapy dog. She was trained quickly and now offers support to anyone in need. Since she was introduced, she’s logged over 2,000 hours of assistance for seniors, children, and others.

Maverick

Maverick is a beautiful Golden-Doodle that was born in 2014 and is now certified to be a therapy dog. He enjoys meeting people in schools and nursing homes and showing off his fluff. In fact, he tries to steal as many hugs as he can!