COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- To ease the anxiety of young abuse victims, Cook County prosecutors have turned to a "courthouse comfort dog."
Hatty is a 4-year-old black Labrador, who has been trained to sit with children as they testify in court about how they were abused, or when they are interviewed by investigators.
Hatty was brought in for one case at the Leighton Criminal Court Building before the pandemic closed courtrooms.
“We need these kids to get comfortable with us, and the biggest part of building the rapport with the children is having (Hatty) there," Jillian Anselmo, an assistant state's attorney, told the Chicago Tribune. "If this child doesn’t trust the three of us, it’s going to be a long, hard road.”
The Tribune reported as court operations have resumed, prosecutors said Hatty is ready to return to work.
As of this month, 273 courthouse comfort dogs are being used in courts in 41 states to help children cope with the stress of abuse investigations.
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