Dogs lend helping paws to young survivors of abuse
Webster and Axel provide comfort at Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre
They're a pair of helping paws that will help kids through their darkest hours.
The Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre Monday announced its newest additions, a pair of trauma dogs — Webster and Axel — that will provide comfort and companionship for young survivors of abuse.
The yellow Labradors, donated to the centre by the Edmontonbased non-profit Dogs With Wings, have already had a profound impact on its clients, said SKCAC lead director Sheldon Kennedy.
“We've already seen the impact and we're going to be measuring that impact,” he said. “One of the impacts of child abuse is that selfhate — they're thinking 'nobody likes me,' and all of a sudden there's one of these guys standing beside them and licking their face.”
Kennedy said it hit home how crucial the dogs have already become when he met with a young client of the facility who told the former NHLer and abuse survivor that being greeted by Webster is the best part of her visits to the kidfocused facility.
Both dogs underwent 9,000 hours of intense training to ensure they're able to provide the critical support needed to children struggling with the demons of sexual and physical abuse.
All that training amounts to a price tag of about $40,000 per dog. Donors to the SKCAC helped pony up $50,000 for the Edmonton agency to help cover the costs.
Webster, fostered as a puppy in Grande Prairie, is the social butterfly of the doggie duo and has been at the centre since March. Calgaryraised Axel, the more serious of the pair, came on board last month.
Bonnie Johnston, the advocacy centre's CEO, said seeing the significant benefits that the Calgary Police Service trauma dog Hawk had on abused children prompted them to look for their own canine helpers.
“I think Hawk is a superstar — and we could see the value of these incredible dogs,” she said.
“What we're trying to do is minimize trauma, and that means reducing system-induced trauma. Really these dogs are part of the team.”
In addition to providing a welcoming face for new clients to the centre, Webster and Axel accompany kids through police investigations, often stressful forensic interviews, medical assessments and even through the court process.
Dr. Sarah MacDonald, a forensic interviewer with the SKCAC, said the two new sets of paws on board have already paid dividends.
“Already Axel has significantly enhanced my job at the centre,” she said. "Forensic interviews are arguably one of the most stressful moments these children will go through.
“Having a trained trauma dog . . . will not only help keep children feeling safe and comfortable, but it will improved the quality of the entire legal process.”
Since opening its doors in 2013, the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre has assessed more than 6,300 cases, averaging some 124 new cases every month.