Rosie Goes to Court; Ivy Goes to Therapy;Ace on the JobDAVID A. CRENSHAW, PH.D., ABPPCLINICAL DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S HOME OF POUGHKEEPSIEFACULTY ASSOCIATE, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Rosie Goes to Court

Brief Summary of the details of Rosie with the approval of the court comforting Jessica during her hour + testimony and cross examination in June of 2011 and the Appellate Court decision in July of 2013.

How Trauma Affects the Brain

Trauma impacts the brain by shutting down the higher cortical pathways in order to mobilize the “survival circuits” of the brain. When trauma is ongoing or repetitive the stress response system becomes dysregulated and the brain is reshaped in function to be in a chronic alarm state. Unresolved trauma results in triggering of trauma memories (implicit memories), dissociation, and abnormal physiological systems including the cardiovascular leaving the person vulnerable and sensitized to further trauma.

Use of Facility Dogs in Trauma-Informed Therapy

Rosie paved the way, for use of Ivy and now Ace in therapy with traumatized children. The uncommon degree of calmness in these dogs enable the children to calm their stress response systems so the higher levels of their brain can process the trauma and they can then speak about the unspeakable.

In addition, the safety and trust these dogs inspire in children allow them to attach first to the dog then to the therapist and finally then to be able to unburden about their secrets and share the trauma narratives they’ve carried inside sometimes for a long time.

Ivy’s Calming Effect on Traumatized Children

Ivy Video

What Do the Dogs have in Common? How do they Differ? Common Features:

CalmnessFriendly, welcoming acceptanceNon-judgmentalTrustworthiness

Differences:Rosie was a pip! But she knew when it was time

to do her job;Ivy was a love and totally dependable at all times;Ace is energetic, loveable, still learning.

Rosie’s Law (Redrafted 2014)

Definition of a “Vulnerable Witness”: “A ‘vulnerable witness’ means a victim or witness who is determined by the court to be unable to effectively communicate on the stand for reasons including but not limited to language, intellectual, or emotional disability, anxiety, fear, or intimidation, or age.”

Research on Oxytocin

The important implications for the Courthouse Dog movement of the neurochemical that provides the biological underpinning of the human-animal bonding

Ace is Young, but is Going to Continue the Legacy

Ace is the grandson of Rosie; the grand nephew of Ivy:

Courthouse Dogs Foundation

I want to express my gratitude to Ellen and Celeste for all their expertise, their generous gift of time and hard work, coming to New York, all in an effort to help craft and pass Rosie’s Law. They are true heroes along with Molly and everyone who contributes in one way or another to the Courthouse Dogs Foundation.

If Rosie’s Law passes, it will be the first in the nation to make it possible for vulnerable witnesses of any age or for any reason are unable to communicate effectively on the stand to have the option of a facility dog to assist them. My heartfelt thanks to all.