A young mother sat before a judge in Sandpoint last week and gave a heart-wrenching statement about the sexual abuse of her 21-month-old daughter. “I’m here today to see that man is put away behind bars for what he did to my baby girl,” she said. Two attorneys sat between her and her ex-boyfriend, who was about to be sentenced to prison for lewd conduct with a minor. Scenes like this are all too common in courtrooms. But on this day, for this nervous and devastated mom, there was something new. At her side all morning was the reassuring presence of Ken, a retriever mix with a sweet face and a serene disposition. Waiting for her turn to speak, the woman sat in the gallery with friends at her side and Ken’s head resting in her lap. Then he lay at her feet as she described the pain and shattered trust the abuse had wrought/Scott Maben, SR. More here.

Question: Would you like to see a comfort dog in the Kootenai County Courthouse, too?