Each Monday Bono the golden retriever patrols the corridors at Orange Courthouse with one mission, to get pats.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bono goes to the courthouse with his owner, Canine Court Companion Program pet therapy volunteer Pam Davis who said they started participating in the program in March 2019 until March 2020.
"Of course, with COVID we had to stop the program and we resumed in March 2021," Ms Davis said.
However, she said during the break caused by COVID-19 precautions, "Bono was a little bit sad because he so loves the program".
"He has done pet therapy for eight years and when we applied for the program he was assessed by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT," Ms Davis said.
She said he was given a great welcome back this year by the court staff.
"Everyone was really enthusiastic, really welcomed him back, and he just loves visiting," Ms Davis said.
"He just loves being back."
She said as well as the court staff he is well received by legal representatives, people appearing in court and their family and friends who come to support them.
"It calms people, he just has a really calming influence on the court users," Ms Davis said.
"I just know the value of pet therapy I've been involved in pet therapy since 2004, I just know it makes a difference.
"If you make even one person smile its worth going in, even if that's all you get."
Another therapy dog Marshall also visits the courthouse on other days.
Attorney General Mark Speakman said the Canine Court Companion Program is a partnership initiative led by Victims Services and Court Services, with each dog receiving up to two years of intensive training with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
"The therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers play an important role by easing the stress of attending court for children, vulnerable witnesses and victims of domestic violence," Mr Speakman said.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.centralwesterndaily.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...
Tanya Marschke
I am based at Orange and cover a wide range of subjects as well as the weekly business column. I've worked consistently in the the media industry since 2006 including the past seven years at the Central Western Daily. Before moving to Orange, I worked as a journalist at weekly newspapers the Beaudesert Times and the Gold Coast Sun in Queensland, as well as the Scone Advocate in the Hunter Valley. I started my career at the Ridge News in Lightning Ridge while I completed my journalism studies remotely at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst.
I am based at Orange and cover a wide range of subjects as well as the weekly business column. I've worked consistently in the the media industry since 2006 including the past seven years at the Central Western Daily. Before moving to Orange, I worked as a journalist at weekly newspapers the Beaudesert Times and the Gold Coast Sun in Queensland, as well as the Scone Advocate in the Hunter Valley. I started my career at the Ridge News in Lightning Ridge while I completed my journalism studies remotely at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst.
