TEXARKANA, Ark. - The Miller County Prosecutor's Office recently gained two graduates who share an office at the courthouse.
Becca Epperson, a new certified facility dog handler, and 2-year-old certified facility dog Noah are part of a national nonprofit organization, PAWS for Justice, and Arkansas is the first state to receive government funding for it.
Certified facility dogs are trained to work with groups of people, unlike a service dog, which is matched with one person.
Noah's purpose is to provide victims and witnesses comfort, encouragement and strength in difficult and stressful situations during a meeting, an interview or on the stand during a jury trial in Southwest Arkansas courthouses.
Miller County Prosecutor Connie Mitchell championed and welcomed the program, said Epperson.
The national nonprofit organization Canine Companions trains the dogs and offered Noah to Miller County free of charge.
"Oh, it's been a rewarding experience so far, I'm humbled every day," said Epperson. "In fact, I've been telling everybody that I wake up every morning and think I'm in a dream. I can't believe that we're doing this together, and then the impact, the potential of what we're going to have, he's going to have, with the communities and I think this is just the mission and the drive behind this whole program."
Paws for Justice in Southwest Arkansas is currently open for victim interviews and Noah will be jury-ready in July.
For more information, visit the Courthouse Dog Foundation.