PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — She doesn’t say a whole lot, but a beloved member of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office will certainly be missed upon her retirement.
Turks, an 8-year-old fox red Labrador retriever, has provided comfort to vulnerable witnesses, including children, in county courtrooms since 2014.
“We often deal with child abuse and sexual assault,” said District Attorney Kevin Steele, “and oftentimes, victims are at their lowest point. Turks was a comfort to them. Turks helped them through the process, whether it was the first interview they were involved with or laying at their feet when they were first testifying.”
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The service dog is retiring as she deals with kidney disease. She will continue living with her handler.
“She has this uncanny ability to go to the person that needs help,” added Steele. “I’ve seen her walk past a number of people and go right to the child, right to the victim of sexual assault, and that means the world to somebody who is going through those difficult times.”
The District Attorney’s Office has applied for another comfort dog and hopes to get one soon.