The “Dogs in Juvenile Courts” program increases its demand by 90 percent
Since 2015, the project, promoted by Dogtor Animal, and with the collaboration of Purina, has helped more than 500 boys and girls in their forensic interviews.
Dogtor Animal, together with the collaboration of Purina, presents the results of the Dogs in Juvenile Courts program. This service is a tool that improves the conditions of boys and girls when approaching judicial expertise, in addition to favoring the transition towards justice where people are at the center.
Since its inception, in 2015 , the project has accompanied around 530 minors in their forensic interviews, both in judicial venues for violence, family and instruction. This resource, which has been highly valued among professionals and families, has proven effective in those cases in which the dog has been used to improve the experience of the minor and that of her family in forensic interviews. Therefore, it is not surprising that, in 2022, the demand for these animals in juvenile courts has increased by more than 90% compared to the previous year.
“These results reaffirm that there is great strength and potential in the human-animal bond, helping us continue our work to improve the lives of pets, the people who love them and the planet that we share”, explains Sònia Sáez, veterinarian and head of communication for Purina.
62% of the cases in which support dogs have been used have been related to cases of violence; followed by custody review cases (15%); sexual abuse (8%); custody review (5%); and with a lower percentage in guardianship reviews and in examinations of minors (3%); among others.
Regarding the profiles in which it has been used, in 2022 52% of those served have been girls, compared to 48% of boys. A change in dynamics, taking into account that, in 2021, 56% of the beneficiaries of this program were boys, compared to 44% of girls.
In addition, with respect to the age ranges of these, the group with the highest incidence has been minors around 10 years of age, which represents 19% of the interventions. Followed by children under 8 years of age (14%); those of 11 and 9 (13%); and those of 12 (12%).
Support dogs favor the emotional state
The ‘Support dogs in juvenile courts’ program allows, on the one hand, minors to testify from a more relaxed emotional state, which strengthens the link with judicial professionals and improves the quality of the interventions. And, on the other, their presence improves the well-being perceived by minors and their families, since they act as an “emotional mattress throughout the process, thus creating a friendlier environment within these centers”, their promoters point out. .
In this sense, these animals are presented as an accompaniment tool throughout the process because they are present from the reception of the minor in the judicial centers, before the test is carried out, as well as during and at the end of forensic interviews, which helps to achieve a good emotional closure.
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AnimalPurinaDogtorJuvenile Court