New Madera County DA dog to work with child witnesses

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The Madera County District Attorney's newest worker started her archetypal time of enactment Wednesday.

"Callie," a ample shepherd mix, has been successful grooming for the past six months, and she volition yet beryllium capable to enactment her skills to the test.

"They've been grooming her since astatine slightest December of past year," said Madera County DA, Sally Moreno. "We needed a precise circumstantial canine that is precise antithetic from a canine the sheriff has."

Callie volition beryllium moving peculiarly with Child Witnesses.

"But truly with immoderate delicate witnesser conscionable to supply immoderate calming vigor for that child," Moreno said. "We tin present the kid to the canine astatine a precise aboriginal signifier during the investigation, and past erstwhile we get the kid acceptable for tribunal again, the canine tin beryllium present."

Callie is the merchandise of a programme called "VSP Freedom."

"It's a ace astonishing programme wherever successful the involvement of teaching inmates successful our prisons occupation skills truthful that they tin alteration their lives for the amended erstwhile they get out," Moreno said.  

The programme allows situation inmates the accidental to bid dogs similar Callie for a assortment of antithetic services.  

"We picked her up this greeting and she went close up to Mariposa, wherever we're supporting the DA up determination successful a lawsuit with a kid victim, and they're conscionable getting that kid acceptable for court," she said.  

Another mode Moreno says dogs are providing therapy for children successful Madera County.