Local Program Comforts Kids Before Court

Imagine being six years old and having to be removed from your home because of abuse or neglect.

Now imagine having to walk into a courtroom at the Bucks County Courthouse to testify or so a judge can check up on you.

Last year, local volunteers launched a program to bring therapy dogs to the courthouse to help comfort and distract children as they waited their turn in front of a judge.

Now, the program is expanding to give each child a huggable reminder of that comfort to take with them when they leave the courthouse in Doylestown.

The Roxy Reading Therapy Dogs Program has received a 2012 Rotary District Grant to expand the courthouse therapy dog program. The money will be used to give stuffed dogs to the children who have to appear in Dependency Court on the third floor of the Bucks County Courthouse.

"The therapy dog program has had a major impact on helping children and parents emotionally on hearing days," Bucks County Judge Robert Mellon, of the Dependency Court, said in a statement, adding, "The children will cherish their new stuffed friend."

Roxy Reading traces its roots to 2005, when a therapy dog named Roxy helped some struggling second grade students embrace reading. The group earned its nonprofit status in 2010.

It started the courthouse dogs program in 2011 in cooperation with Judge Mellon.

"The therapy dogs do a great job of helping them forget just how scared and confused they are, even if it is just for a few minutes," said Linda McCrillis, Doylestown Rotary spokesperson and therapy dog volunteer. "The donated stuffed dogs will serve as reminders of the comfort the children experienced while interacting with the real dogs at the courthouse."

Grants from Rotary districts are used to promote the group's mission of service in the community. In this case, the grant money was secured by a joint effort between the Doylestown and Central Bucks Rotary clubs.

Diane Smith, President of Roxy Reading said the program "is such a nice way to brighten up an otherwise awful day for the kids. We feel very blessed that the Doylestown and Central Bucks Rotarians have provided these thoughtful gifts for us to share with the children."

To learn more about the Roxy Reading program or their work with Bucks County and the courts contact Smith at 215-479-5325 or visit www.RoxyReading.org.   

Chartered in 1924, the Rotary Club of Doylestown is one of the longest-standing clubs within Rotary District 7430, which covers much of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Meetings are held Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. at Doylestown Country Club. 

Recently chartered, the Central Bucks Rotary Club is a growing part of Rotary District 7430. The club meets Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. in the Oscar Martin Room of the Doylestown Moose Lodge.

For more information about membership in either club, contact Linda McCrillis at (215) 348-4803 or visit www.RotaryDistrict7430.org.