How a Deaf Dog Changed One Young Girl’s Life Forever

Most people know how good therapy dogs are because they help people of any age who suffer from challenging or stressful situations. In fact, there’s a therapy dog for any problem imaginable, such as seizures and hyperactive disorders. There’s even a therapy dog to help kids feel safe while they’re testifying in the courtroom!

If you’ve ever been in a courtroom before to testify, you know how stressful it can be. Imagine having to be there as a child! A therapy dog can be a great comfort to them during that time. Karl is just one of many therapy dogs who changed one young girl’s life!

The Court Dog

Adult matters can often be scary for kids, especially when these young people have to testify in a courtroom. However, it’s often necessary, and one little girl was required to take the stand when a man wronged her.

She Froze

The young girl froze up when she saw the man who had wronged her. While no one blamed her for being scared, her testimony was essential, and they all knew it. That’s when a court dog named Karl came to save the day!

About Karl

Karl wasn’t an average therapy dog. He was a 65-pound, 5-year-old white boxer and was part of the Companions for Courage campaign. This K-9 circuit dog appeared in courtrooms to offer support to children who had to testify.

The K-9 Circuit Program

The K-9 circuit program dogs were very special and offered a sense of protection to young people who had to testify in the courtroom. US court systems now recognize the need to provide trauma-sensitive measures, and therapy dogs are the best choice!

More on Karl

Each therapy dog is special for what they do, but Karl is unique because he’s deaf. That deafness is a crucial asset because he can’t react to the noises in the courtroom. His only goal is to focus on who he’s trying to comfort!

Calm and Collected

Karl’s calm demeanor makes him very popular with the children he works with. Plus, his size makes them feel protected and safe. Sometimes, he dresses in silly outfits to visit the courtroom to put kids at ease.

A Challenge

It was hard to train Karl because he was deaf. Joanne, Karl’s trainer, had helped three boxers become therapy dogs before she found Karl and had never taught a deaf dog. He required different training since he couldn’t hear commands.

The Solution

Joanne found a creative way to help Karl follow commands because she taught him American Sign Language. Therefore, she could sign his orders, allowing him to excel in his work because he knew what was required of him.

Enjoying Life

Karl is a special-needs dog, but he overcame his difficulties to become a therapy dog. He enjoys bringing joy to everyone he meets, including senior citizens and kids. Plus, his disability makes him an excellent courtroom therapy dog!

A Helping Paw

Therapy dogs in the K-9 circuit program are there to make sad things easier to deal with. They give the testifying kids the courage to tell the truth, and the process is much less stressful because they have a furry friend.

A Little Girl’s Encounter

Some things shouldn’t happen to little girls. One young lady knew that a man wronged her, and he was to be in the courtroom while she told her story. She was scared to see him, but Karl was there to put her mind at ease.

One Problem

There was a significant problem Karl had when working. Most children didn’t know American Sign Language, so they couldn’t communicate with him. Joanne realized that and figured out a way to resolve that issue.

A Hand Signal

Joanne taught Karl a special hand signal, making him very popular as a courtroom therapy dog. The kids believed they had a super-secret code with Karl and could make him come to them. He saved the day on many occasions because of that!

Therapy Dogs in the Courtroom

Therapy dogs in courtrooms are highly encouraged, especially for young victims who must testify. One girl seriously needed a therapy dog, and she turned to Joanne to ask something baffling before she got inside the courtroom.

The Difficult Case

That young girl’s case was a hard one, so she asked Joanne if Karl could protect her. She was afraid of everything after she dealt with the man who wronged her. Therefore, Karl was a crucial asset to her.

Nervousness

Karl sat with the young girl during the depositions and prep sessions. That gave her the courage she needed to tell her story, even though it was scary. When she entered the courtroom, she froze, afraid to face that man.

The Hero

The young girl quickly signed to Karl, so he came and sat by her. That gave her the comfort and security necessary. Karl just sat there, and she ran her feet along his fur to get the strength needed to say her piece.

A Support System

This little girl testified with Karl by her side. Because of that, she got through the whole trial with no problems. All that preparation paid off, but no one expected what happened immediately after the trial.

A Huge Difference

The story of Karl and what he did spread like wildfire online, so it reached millions of people throughout the world. Everyone loved what he did for the girl, which brought awareness to the K-9 circuit program.

The Next Step

When the trial was finished, Karl continued offering support to the children who testified. He didn’t suddenly disappear from their lives when it was over. In fact, he is there for them outside of the courtroom, too!

A Hero

Karl travels through life without even realizing he’s a hero to the kids he comes across. He’s still a therapy dog for the courtroom and does his job the best way he can. In fact, his disability hasn’t stopped him!

Not Just His Job

Karl doesn’t treat kids like patients to help. He only wants to be their friend. The little girl didn’t only get security from him. This therapy dog received affection and love from her, and all dogs want that!

All Therapy Dogs

Every therapy dog wants love and attention, and that’s true for all pets. However, these dogs are special because they provide companionship and security to those in need. Boomer helps out one friend at Dependency Court!

Judges Too

Therapy dogs aren’t only there for people who testify in court. They can help judges, as well! Since judges often work long, hard hours, they need some cuddles from friendly pups. Judge Latimore found some new friends in those therapy dogs!

Bring Joy

Therapy dogs don’t just work. They’re also friends for children in need during stressful times, such as testifying in a courtroom. Here’s Dupont, another K-9 therapy dog, being a friend in Dependency Court.

The Morning Shift

Generally, therapy dogs work around the clock to offer support to people in need. Some of them enjoy the afternoon shift, but others get up bright and early. Still, they never miss a chance to give love and light to others.

Making a Difference

The therapy dogs in any community make a big difference to others without even knowing it. Here are Dupont and Essie, who have a chance to relax after a long day of spreading around love.

Perks of the Job

The Companion for Courage team has one of the best perks of the job because they get tons of attention and love. Everyone wants to shower these therapy dogs with affection whenever they get the chance.

Worker of the Month

You can’t have only one therapy dog of the month because they’re all excellent at their jobs. It doesn’t matter because they don’t focus on things like that. These therapy dogs only care about making people feel safe and loved.

Waiting Patiently

Courtrooms require people to wait long periods, so it’s important to be patient. Here, you can see Karl understands that very well. He’s taught himself to sit on the bench to wait calmly until his friends arrive.

The Complete Team

This program has flourished over the years, so it has many therapy dogs. That means they can help more people than ever before. Because Karl was one of the first, he paved the way for other programs to start, helping kids across the nation who must testify.

Karl’s Impact

That little girl succeeded in giving her testimony, which caused the bad man to get a conviction. He was finally locked up so that he couldn’t hurt anyone else. In a sense, it was all thanks to one deaf therapy dog named Karl.

Meet Bella

Bella loves attention and is calm and loyal. The sweet Doberman Pinscher is one of the many K-9 circuit program dogs and offers reassurance and security to children testifying in courtrooms.

Boomer

Boomer is another K-9 circuit program therapy dog. This Sheltie-Poodle mix was a therapy dog for many years before he joined the circuit program. Now, he even helps educate adults who want to qualify their dogs for such work!

Daisy-Mai

Daisy-Mai is a little cutie who has been a therapy dog since 2011. This pedigree Pomeranian is part of the Pet Therapy Team found at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando and Arnold Palmer Hospital.

Kenai

Kenai had a rough life as a puppy, and the American Atika was finally rescued. Now, his life is better, and he helps other people stay calm. In fact, he enjoys getting belly rubs from all his new friends.

Tilley

Matilda likes to be called Tilley, and her real name means “mighty in battle.” That’s very fitting because she was very sick as a puppy and got abandoned. Vets nursed her back to health, and she’s now a hero to everyone she meets.

Essie

Essie was born in 2012 and had to be rescued. This mixed breed finally learned to be a therapy dog, so she meets tons of people and loves them all. Her favorite thing is being a part of the Companions for Courage community.

Josie

Josie had to get rescued in 2008 and learned to be a therapy dog. Once she was trained, she jumped into service to support others. In fact, she’s logged over 2,000 hours of helping seniors, children, and everyone else since she was introduced.

Maverick

Maverick is a beautiful Golden Doodle born in 2014. He’s certified as a therapy dog and enjoys going to people in schools and nursing homes. In fact, he models his fluffy fur in the hopes of getting more hugs!