How Pepper the courthouse dog helps victims of abuse

Deborah Kelley’s blind husband, Orton, was killed in June 2024 after being dragged for blocks on Alabama Avenue, S.C., by a hit-and-run driver who had already crashed into him.

But her trauma was just beginning. It took 10 months for the driver, Kenneth Trice Jr., to be arrested and another six months for him to be sentenced to just six months in prison.

Kelly had a steady four-legged presence by her side as she heaved and sobbed in court in November. It was Pepper, a courtroom dog known as a black Labrador retriever in the D.C. Superior Court.

Abby Stavitsky, a former federal prosecutor and current victim advocate, is the owner and caretaker of 9-year-old Pepper. She said one of Pepper’s greatest strengths in the courtroom over the past six years was providing emotional support and comfort to victims.

“She absorbs all the emotions and feelings around her, and she’s very good at handling it,” Stavitsky said.

Pepper and Stavitsky began working in Judge Mary Grace Luke’s court and now work in Judge Janet Albert’s court, providing support to traumatized youth, especially those who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

These specially trained dogs provide emotional support to trauma survivors of all ages. Court dogs are said to reduce the anxiety and stress of victims and witnesses, making it easier for them to give clear statements in court. Criminal Justice Review 2019 Report.

“The presence of stroking and touching can be distracting and result in the victim calming down when testifying in court,” Stavitsky said. “This provides added comfort.”

What brings Stavitsky and Pepper together

Mr. Stavitsky spent 25 years as an assistant U.S. attorney, handling many victim-based crimes, primarily domestic violence and sex crimes. She is also a dog lover and was inspired by learning about court dogs and their use.

In 2019, Pepper was given to Stavitsky by the Massachusetts-based organization NEADS, formerly known as National Assistance Dog Services Education. Pepper was originally trained as a service dog, but evaluators decided her personality was best suited to be a court dog.

Pepper currently works regularly on a variety of therapeutic court cases involving juveniles, many of whom have experienced trauma or are involved in the child welfare system. She also sits with victims while they testify at trial.

“She loves people, especially children,” Stavitsky said. “She loves that interaction.”

Court dogs have a long history

In courthouses across the United States, specially trained “facility dogs” are becoming an important part of how the justice system supports vulnerable victims and witnesses.

Since the late 1980s, these dogs have been used to assist trauma survivors and anxious children during testimony and interviews. The first dog to appear in court was Sheba, a German shepherd who worked with child sexual abuse victims in the Queens, New York, district attorney’s office. Court dogs can help you communicate more clearly, especially in anxious or stressful situations.

Unlike service dogs, court facility dogs are professionally trained through certified service dog organizations and work alongside prosecutors, victim advocates, and forensic interviewers every day. For example, court dogs are different from service dogs and can have more social interactions.

The growing use of courtroom dogs has prompted state laws and professional guidelines to recognize dogs as trauma-informed tools to help victims participate in the judicial process without compromising the impartiality of the courtroom.

As more jurisdictions adopt these programs, court dogs are reshaping the way the legal system balances compassion and process, ensuring victims’ voices are heard in environments that might otherwise silence them.

With Pepper, it’s easy to see why.

“I truly love people, especially children, and can provide emotional support and comfort during every step of the court process,” Stavitsky handed out a business card with Pepper’s photo on it. “I’m calm and quiet, so I can stay there for a few hours.”

(This article was written by students in the Journalism Program at D.C. Bard High School Early College. This work is part of a partnership between the Washington Blade Foundation and Youthcast Media Group, and is funded through a 26 Community Development Grant from the Office of Muriel Bowser in the Washington, D.C., Mayor’s Office.)