Paw Patrol is based on the concept that emotional support dogs are dogs that provide an essential support to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of the person they occasionally or permanently accompany. Their presence and contact with them have very positive effects on people’s health and mood.
Through the Decree 375/2011 of December 30 The Victim Support Service in Andalusia is regulated and aims to provide a framework for the Victim Support Service in Andalusia or SAVA as a public service that aims to provide comprehensive and coordinated care to vulnerable victims.
Dog patrol at the service of Justice
Cami, Canela, Rai and Lina are the new members of the Victim Support Service in Andalusia (SAVA) in Huelva, “the dog patrol of Justice”, four dogs specially trained to accompany minors and vulnerable victims when they have to testify in a courthouse. This is a project that is part of the Humanisation Plan for Justice, developed by the Ministry of Justice, Local Government and Public Functions, and which aims to reduce the fear and stress that usually arises when going to court.
The consultant José Antonio Nieto presented this innovative project called AUVAwhich will be launched in Huelva as a pilot experience within the above-mentioned plan, which aims to achieve closer, more accessible justice and to offer a personalized service responsive to the needs of citizens, with special attention to the most vulnerable. “They will be our dog patrol of Justice”he assured.
The goal is making courts a friendlier environment to avoid the secondary victimization that can result from having to relate facts to judges, prosecutors and parties’ lawyers, which is traumatic for the victims.
«When a person needs action from Justice, he is in one situation of vulnerability, in a cold and difficult environment that does not knowAnd certain people need special attention due to their age, disability or various circumstances and just contact with these noble allies gives them support and security,” the counselor said.
Nieto explained that Assisting victims during legal trials with trained dogs has been shown to improve their emotional well-being and the coherence and clarity of their testimonies. in countries such as Belgium, France and Italy, where the FYDO programme, funded by the European Commission, is implemented. The Community of Madrid, Catalonia, Asturias, Galicia and the Canary Islands have also had some experiences in Spain.
Andalusia will be tested for the first time in Huelva, which “will be ours reference to evaluate and expand it to other provinces» following the upcoming signing of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Justice and the social entity ATENIN, which manages the SAVA in the province and is responsible for the training and care of the animals.
Trained to show attachment
However, project director Lola Martínez and trainer Manuel Álvarez have been working since the summer with Cami (4-year-old Belgian shepherd and ‘patrol leader’), Canela (2-year-old dachshund), Rai (pinscher) and Lina (Yorkshire terrier). These last two, in the training process they are “the trainees”. To do this, they were taken several times to the Palace of Justice and toured the facilities with them, so that they became familiar with the environment and specially prepared them for dealing with the victims.
In this sense, his trainer explained that «Not all dogs are useful, they must have a special character and be trained so that they are the ones who attract the user’s attention, approaching people so they can caress them and soothe themselves.”
Lola Martínez, for her part, described this in detail The idea is that at least one of them is always in the SAVA facilities and the rest are available depending on needs.as it is the service providers who select the victims who can benefit from the program. When accompanying a victim, they will meet them at the door of the building and will accompany them through the courts to “create a bond of attachment”, after which they will be with them at all times on the day of the statement and “ there will also be a relaxation session with the animal at the end.
“The goal is to reduce anxiety, which makes statements less consistent. Dogs help people achieve a calm state before humans do.. “It’s about helping the justice system improve statements and eliminate the effects of secondary victimization,” the therapist added.
The handler explained that the dog facilitation work will initially only begin with minors, although “we believe this can be done extend to other vulnerable victims, such as those of gender violence and sexual crimes, people with disabilities or the elderly.
For a more human justice
Nieto recalled that the humanization of justice is one of the axes of this process Strategic Justice Plan that the board finalizes its presentation before the summer and that also includes the digitalization of the system, the promoting mediation as an alternative means of conflict resolution and actions in the infrastructure of 100% of the judicial districts, including the City of Justice of Huelva, the expansion of the Moguer headquarters, a new headquarters in Ayamonte and improvements in La Palma del Condado and Aracena, as well as in the current Palace of Justice of the capital.
Among the measures taken to make justice more humane, improvements in accessibility stand out, with lElimination of architectural and sensory barriers in judicial locationsor the translation into easy reading of orders and resolutions that affect people with comprehension difficulties; the creation of waiting rooms for victims of gender violence that avoid any contact, even visual, with the aggressor and guarantee their privacy, or the increase in the number of Gesell Rooms equipped to record testimonies, with full legal certainty, that can be used as evidence pre-formed in processes.